Utah Hockey Club Takes Point In OT Loss To Dallas

Jan 4, 2025 , 5:34 PM | Updated: 9:02 pm

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 02: Colin Blackwell #15 of the Dallas Stars looks to make a pass as Nick Bjugstad #17 of the Utah Hockey Club defends the play during the third 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)

DALLAS, Texas- The Utah Hockey Club was in the Lone Star State to take on the Dallas Stars. Following a five-game losing streak, the Hockey Club started the year off on the right foot with a win in Calgary against the Flames.

Utah’s game against the Stars was the last one on the road before returning to Delta Center for an extended home stand where they will play seven home games in a row.

Though there weren’t any goals scored in the first period, the tone was set for this game between two very skilled teams. Dallas took ten shots in the first period and Utah took nine, but Vejmelka and Oettinger stood their ground in their respective nets to keep the game scoreless.

The action in this game was all found in the second period. Jamie Benn took matters into his own hands only 16 seconds into the period, scoring the game’s first goal with a wrist shot. For Utah, it was all Matias Maccelli. He chased a cleared puck and then passed it 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.

Dallas responded to the Maccelli goal close to the midway point of the second period when Oskar Bäck put Dallas back up by one with a goal of his own.

But once again, Matias Maccelli put the Hockey Club on his back. Alexander Kerfoot came away with a trapped puck in the corner 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.

Utah and Dallas went into the second intermission tied at two, and that’s how it would stay until the end of regulation. Utah went into yet another overtime game and traded prime scoring chances with the Stars as both teams had breakaway opportunities with numbers that were turned away.

The game came to an end when Matt Duchene took the puck right into the crease, but Vejmelka was unable to get on top of it. The puck leaked out to Thomas Harley who sent a shot into the back of the net to give Dallas the win.

Pregame

First period

Second Period

Third Period

Overtime

 

Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.

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Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.

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