SALT LAKE CITY- The Utah Hockey Club took control of their battle with the Anaheim Ducks into the locker room for the first intermission after Barrett Hayton scored a late go-ahead goal to put the home team up 2-1.
The boys came out flying to open the second period, extending their lead less than three minutes into the frame.
A turnover from the Ducks caused Ryan Strome to slash a Hockey Club player to avoid a breakaway, sending him to the box and Utah back onto the Power Play. The Hockey Club’s Power Play has been scorching hot as of late, and the fire continues to burn.
The Ducks were on their heels as Utah whipped the puck around their zone. Eventually, it found the stick of Clayton Keller who passed it back and forth a few times with Logan Cooley. After a few rounds of catch, Keller left it for Cooley who dropped to one knee to unload an absolute rocket that flew past the Anaheim goaltender and into the back of the net.
This is a beautifully crafted goal on the power play and a heck of a shot from Cooley. Really doesn't get any better.
You give Utah 3 power plays, and they are going to score on you right now.#UtahHC https://t.co/HJ0YBaYSVp
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 22, 2024
Utah was firing on all cylinders at this point and Anaheim had no answer. Just a short time later, the Hockey Club was once again extending a shift, forcing tired Ducks defenders to stay on the ice.
Nick Schmaltz and Mikhail Sergachev traded the puck as they crisscrossed at the top of the zone. Sergachev left it for Clayton Keller who handled the puck with no opposition from the Ducks. Keller inched toward the net, seeking a lane to shoot. He found that lane as he drifted left, firing a shot that the Ducks goaltender was unable to see because of the traffic in front of net.
The goal was Keller’s fourth point of the night, adding to his already stellar stat line of a goal and two assists, and now with nearly a period and a half still to play, Clayton is on Hat Trick watch.
Play maker, play finisher. Clayton Keller tallies his second of the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eLV5suJVVY
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 22, 2024
With 8:36 remaining in the second period, the Utah Hockey Club now leads the Anaheim Ducks 4-2.
While the number of penalties taken by the Utah Hockey Club on Friday was not ideal, their response to all five was perfect as they refused to allow Minnesota to score.
In addition to superb netminding from Karel Vejmelka, Utah had textbook positioning, an impenetrable shape and continuously sacrificed their bodies to block shots.
“We made some adjustments on the PK, it works well…We get big blocked shot, we get urgency. So, that’s pretty good. Power play, I don’t think we were extremely good, but we scored,” head coach Andre Tourigny said.
Utah simply responded when they needed to and that’s been the story as of late for this team.
After Minnesota scored in the first period, Utah responded with a tying goal just moments later.
Whether it was penalties committed in the first, second or third periods, they responded with critical stops.
When Minnesota pulled their goaltender late in the third for an extra attacker, the team held their ground, cleared the puck and secured the victory.
Regardless of what has been thrown at them, Utah has discovered a way to respond and that’s made a massive difference in winning close games, even if they are a bit greasy.
