SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 19: Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Utah Hockey Club in action during the first period of a game against the Boston Bruins at Delta Center on October 19, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – In the third period, Utah Hockey Club forward Nick Schmaltz scored the equalizer to even things up with Colorado at Delta Center.
Logan Cooley and Mikhail Sergachev were credited with assists on the score.
Utah’s power play remains red-hot after Schmaltz tips one in.
Beautifully constructed goal as they worked the zone, remained patient, and waited for the right opportunity.
Sergachev is so good at putting the puck in dangerous areas for his teammates. https://t.co/mgzL7ZiTR7
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 28, 2024
Set up on the power play after a Colorado tripping call, the first minute was pretty slow.
With four penalties that totaled 11 minutes in the box, the Avalanche had done a great job through two periods of bending but not breaking on the penalty kill.
An anxious Delta Center crowd watched intently as Sergachev slowed the pace from the point.
The defenseman slung the puck toward the left side of the net and Schmaltz was right there to light the lamp.
NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES AND THIS GAME IS TIED 1-1!!!!
DELTA CENTER IS GOING WILD.#UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 28, 2024
Colorado held the advantage in shots for the whole night. It felt like Utah was playing on its heels for the majority of the game.
That feeling came to fruition later in the period as Artturi Lehkonen scored his second goal to put the Avs back out in front.
Utah was left with five minutes on the clock to find another equalizer.
