SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 18: Matias Maccelli #63 of the Utah Hockey Club shoots the puck as Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks pursues the play during the second period of a game at Delta Center on December 18, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, Texas- The Utah Hockey Club is looking to make up some ground in the Central Division as they take on the Dallas Stars, who are seven points up on Utah in the standings and also have a game in hand.
The Hockey Club and Stars participated in a very evenly matched first period in which neither team scored and headed to the first intermission knotted up at zero.
The tie however was broken not even a minute into the second period. The Stars had the puck in the offensive zone, and as the puck whirled around the back of the net, the Utah defense lost track of Jamie Benn, who received a pass from Wyatt Johnston and sent a wrist shot past Karel Vejmelka for the first goal of the night, giving Dallas the 1-0 lead.
Weary of allowing the Stars to build momentum at home that could lead to a larger deficit, the Hockey Club quickly got back to work. Mikhail Sergachev put a shot on net that was saved by Jake Oettinger, allowing Dallas to regain the puck and clear the zone.
Utah chased and Matias Maccelli snatched the puck, turning back up ice to re-enter the offensive zone. He passed the puck to Bjugstad, who crossed the blue line on the far side of the ice. Bjugstad dumped it off to Crouse, all the while Maccelli was sneaking back door on the Dallas defense, allowing Crouse to hit him with a pass.
The wide-open Maccelli sent a one-timer past Oettinger into the back of the net to pull Utah even with Dallas.
🚨 CHELLY CELLY! Tied up 1-1. pic.twitter.com/5nq901I3BS
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 5, 2025
The Hockey Club and Stars went back and forth for the next ten minutes, but Oskar Bäck broke through at the 10:30 mark, putting Dallas on top once again.
The offense seemed to have been turned up a notch on both sides and Utah seemed destined to score another before the period was over.
Dallas once again cleared and it was Maccelli again who controlled and reset in his own defensive zone as the rest of his teammates on the ice went to the bench for a change. Utah entered the zone and the puck found itself in a jam in the near corner. Alexander Kerfoot finally came away with it and wrapped around the back of the goal, but Oettinger beat him to the other side, deflecting Kerfoot’s shot away from net where Maccelli was in the perfect spot to clean up for his second goal of the period.
CHELLY FOR TWO!
You're going to want to stay for that replay 👀 pic.twitter.com/NjuSyL3pds
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 5, 2025
At the end of the second period, the Utah Hockey Club and Dallas Stars are all tied at two goals a piece.
For the first time since November 29, Associate Captain Lawson Crouse was finally able to light the lamp as he scored twice against Calgary.
O'Brien's aggressive forecheck made this possible and what a finish from Crouse on a gorgeous feed from Ian Cole.
Third line has needed a spark. Huge positive for them to see one go in.#UtahHC https://t.co/Ul1OklNaem
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 3, 2025
While Crouse was able to get the monkey off his back and find the back of the net, as he pointed out in an interview during the first intermission, his first goal would not have happened without an aggressive forecheck from Liam O’Brien.
Making his second-straight appearance and fifth overall this season, O’Brien yet again brought a plethora of energy that juiced his line.
When he was on the ice, ‘Spicy Tuna’ was incredibly aggressive, finished checks, battled in the dirty areas and provided a much-needed spark to the third line as they mirrored his efforts.
“They played with pace,” Andre Tourigny said about the third line. “They had no hesitation in their game. They were skating. They were hard on the forecheck. They made plays with the puck and put pucks at the net. Big man came up with two big goals. Happy for him.”
Despite a small sample size, O’Brien’s back-to-back performances should have him in consideration for more minutes moving forward as he elevated the third line’s energy, and they played their best hockey of the season against Calgary.
Third line just looks different tonight.
More energy, suffocating pressure, and lots of quality chances. #UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 3, 2025
As for Crouse, it was incredibly important for him to see not just one, but two go in as goals have been few and far between this season.
“It felt good. Feels better to get a win. That’s a big win. We needed that and something to build off going into Dallas,” Crouse said.
His best game of the season.
Just a FILTHY top shelf goal from Crouse to get his second of the night.
Massive response from the Associate Captain tonight. https://t.co/8NlsIIA1Ni
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 3, 2025
In addition to finding the back of the net twice, Crouse played with a different energy against Calgary.
He was buzzing all night, aggressive, made the most of his opportunities and demonstrated just how good he can be.
If Crouse and the rest of the third line can build on what they did against the Flames, Utah can continue their winning ways and push for the playoffs with consistent production from top to bottom.
