SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 02: Thomas Harley #55 of the Dallas Stars moves the puck through the neutral zone as Matias Maccelli #63 of the Utah Hockey Club pursues the play during the second period of a game at Delta Center on December 02, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- The Utah Hockey Club welcomed the Dallas Stars into Delta Center on the second night of a back-to-back after giving up three unanswered goals to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout loss. Tonight’s game against Dallas was important as the two teams were tied in points and jostled for position within the Central Division.
Dallas opened the scoring in Monday night’s battle with a breakaway goal from Colin Blackwell.
Utah quickly regrouped, evening the score just a few minutes later. Carcone dumped it off for the trailing Ian Cole, who unleashed a one-timer. Kevin Stenlund, who was posted up in the face of Casey DeSmith, caught a piece of the rocket, redirecting it into the back of the goal, sending Delta Center into a frenzy.
The Hockey Club fell flat in the second period on both the offensive and defensive ends of the puck. Utah spent several long shifts in their defensive zone, allowing Dallas to pepper Karel Vejmelka. Two of those efforts from the Stars got through and the away team took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
The third period was a battle for Utah as they pushed the envelope to try to get back into the contest. Their persistence paid off with around eight minutes to play.
Nick Schmaltz took the puck back up the left side of the zone toward the blue line. He turned and fired the puck on goal, and the quick thinking of Barrett Hayton allowed him to get his stick in the air, getting a piece as it flew past him. The touch made the shot impossible to save for Casey DeSmith and Utah had pulled to within one down the stretch.
The Hockey Club was not able to even the score, even with an extra attacker for the final minute and a half, and the Dallas Stars are taking a 3-2 win back home to Texas right before Christmas.
Fell short tonight. pic.twitter.com/rf0iD0bxSj
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Archie’s first Christmas 🩵🐾🎄 pic.twitter.com/U0dd6eQdpM
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Lookin’ good fellas 😎 pic.twitter.com/lA32hkyp8X
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Grand entrance 🛷 pic.twitter.com/VFlj1xlTOs
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Vejmelka back in net.
Kolyachonok returns to the third pairing. https://t.co/4rYrqamRQB
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Starting lineup: starring a Christmas Karel 🎄#UtahHC | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/aKEmLkVoUG
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
BIG divisional game tonight.
A win against the Stars would be a huge confidence boost for this team as they continue to mature and grow. https://t.co/vQVYEFdMeY
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Lawson Crouse commits a slashing penalty and will sit for 2 minutes.
1P: 19:08 | 0-0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
Utah back to full strength. https://t.co/Xi9ojjfwWM
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
Nice sequence from Valimaki on that last shift.
Great pass between the legs along the boards in the neutral zone to send the forwards the other way and a great shot on goal.
He's been very good since being named to Finland's Four Nations roster.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Insane play by Cooley to make a pass to Guenther in the O-zone from his knees with Stars draped all over him.
Great protection and skill to make that happen.#UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Stars score after a Utah turnover in the neutral zone that resulted in a 2 on 1 the other direction.
1P: 8:58 | 1-0 Dallas
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
KEVIN STENLUND SCORES AND ITS ALL TIED UP!
ROCKET from Ian Cole and a beautiful tip from Stenlund.
1-1 in Salt Lake City.#UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Stenlund has been surpassing expectations as of late.
His five goals in December tie a career-best for goals over the course of a month.
He's phenomenal in the face-off circle, great on the PK, and has been putting the puck in the net as of late. https://t.co/Z64pCU008b
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
My goodness.
What a pass from Keller to Schmaltz on that last sequence. He threaded that through 4 Stars.
Schmaltz just could not get the angle.
Utah to the power play now. Huge momentum swing.#UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
The third line with some rotten puck luck after a beautifully crafted Grade A chance.
Great rush from Crouse, a spinning pass from Bjugstad, and a great one-timer from Maccelli right in close.
Casey DeSmith just makes an unreal save to keep it out.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
End 1st period.
Utah 1
Dallas 1SOG
Utah 11
Dallas 10pic.twitter.com/idBcqLapdr— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
Even after the first. pic.twitter.com/C2tJuPIHnk
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Clayton Keller commits a hooking penalty.
Dallas Stars back to the power play.
2P: 11:36 | 1-1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
Brilliance from Vejmelka during that Stars power play.
Couple lightning quick pad saves to deny some really dangerous chances for Dallas. He tracks the puck so well and reacts so quickly.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Stars score after absolutely suffocating pressure and a quick rush that turned into a 2 on 0 against Vejmelka.
Blazing speed allowed the Stars to get past Utah's last line of defense.
2-1 Dallas late in the second period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Stars score after absolutely suffocating pressure and a quick rush that turned into a 2 on 0 against Vejmelka.
Blazing speed allowed the Stars to get past Utah's last line of defense.
2-1 Dallas late in the second period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Dallas scores again.
Nobody tracked Benn who smashed one home right in front. Almost feels like the Stars are playing with a man advantage based on their pace and intensity.
3-1 Stars very late in the second period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
End 2nd period.
Utah 1
Dallas 3SOG
Utah 17
Dallas 27— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 24, 2024
Work to do in the final frame. pic.twitter.com/1FRHJfcI90
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Great play by Kerfoot to steal the puck away and generate a breakaway but he loses the puck in the slot.
Great individual effort but he just loses the frozen biscuit as he prepared to shoot.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Broken sticks, fanning on shots, losing the puck on a breakaway…just one of those nights for Utah where the puck doesn't bounce your way.
For most of December it has, but not tonight.
Bound to happen.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Blackwell just bulldozed Vejmelka over but no call from the referees.
Sergachev did not like what he saw and went after Blackwell.
You don't let anybody touch your goaltender without a response.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
BARRETT HAYTON SCORES AGAIN!
Things just got interesting!
3-2 Dallas.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Hayton gets us within one! pic.twitter.com/FxHzYS2gvn
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Hundred point Haytes! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Q7f3SBDyg2
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
Great response from Utah right now.
Tons of energy and urgency. We'll see if they can find a way to tie this game up. Plenty of chances right now.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Vejmelka to the bench.
Extra attacker on for #UtahHC
2 minutes to go.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Hayton just got shoved to the ground in front of the Stars net and Keller was not having it.
That's the most fight I've seen in Keller. Love to see that from your captain. Not going to stand for that.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Stars hang on to defeat #UtahHC 3-2 in Salt Lake.
Poor stretch in the second put Utah in a tough spot but there's a lot to like about their response, especially in the third.
Good reminder this team is still growing but they are not far off. Exciting potential.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 24, 2024
Fell short tonight. pic.twitter.com/rf0iD0bxSj
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 24, 2024
