SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Hockey Club fell behind early but dug deep and scratched out a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in the second of seven straight home games.
Utah HC (18-16-7, 43 points) won its second of three games against the Sharks (13-25-6, 32 points) on Friday, January 10.
Gonna enjoy some Swig after this one @SanJoseSharks 🥤 pic.twitter.com/84D2p1eEtH
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 11, 2025
Utah has a re-tooled top line tonight after Dylan Guenther was ruled out indefinitely with a lower-body injury earlier in the day. Guenther’s 34 points are third on the team behind Clayton Keller’s 40 and Logan Cooley’s 35. The third-year forward has 16 goals and 18 assists in 40 games.
San Jose averages 2.6 goals per game, led by 15 from Tyler Toffoli. Mikael Granlund leads the Sharks with 35 points, followed by 30 from William Eklund.
San Jose’s December record was 2-10-1. San Jose stole the first game 4-3 in overtime, and Utah took the second matchup 4-3 in San Jose on December 14.
ROSTER UPDATE@utahhockeyclub forward Dylan Guenther will be out indefinitely (lower-body)
The Club has recalled forward Josh Doan from the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
— Utah Hockey Club PR (@UtahHC_PR) January 10, 2025
Puppy love 🩵 pic.twitter.com/8WwqErUb0K
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 10, 2025
First of the back to back.
Need to pick up some points against the Sharks.
Let’s play some hockey. pic.twitter.com/SNHht8XZVG
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Not ideal. https://t.co/xZMfWldloD
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Josh Doan with a nice first shift for #UtahHC
Aggressive on the forecheck and beat 2 Sharks defenders to extend a Utah possession which generated a shot for Hayton.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Sharks penalty. Two minutes for cross checking.
Utah to the power play.
1P: 15:06 | 1-0 Sharks
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 11, 2025
Productive shifts from both of Utah's power play units.
They possessed the puck in the Sharks zone for nearly the entire 2 minutes but just couldn't find the back of the net.
Kesselring even hit the crossbar.
Sharks back to full strength.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Georgiev has had the hot glove tonight through the first period.
Snagged a few slappers from in close and kept his team ahead.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Congratulations on your 200th career @NHL game, Bainer! pic.twitter.com/XhFRWVNqzl
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 11, 2025
Valimaki is down on the ice after taking a stick to the neck.
Trainer has come out as he makes his way off the ice.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Maccelli just put one right off the post.
Goalie was beaten but the post said no. Thats the second time the pipe has robbed Utah tonight.
Sharks still lead 1-0 late in the first.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Aside from the unfortunate rebound that the Sharks capitalized on, Utah was the far better team throughout most of the first.
Just some bad puck luck as the pipe robbed them twice.
Gotta dig deep over the next 40 minutes. https://t.co/ZjDGyjgFHl
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES AND ITS TIED UP IN UTAH!
Great patience and one heck of a snipe to beat Georgiev.
Delta Center has some life.#UtahHC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Phenomenal patience here from Schmaltz.
Waited for the right window to open and let one rip.
Utah kept at it and were finally rewarded with a goal.pic.twitter.com/b48Sl9fBr7
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Barrett Hayton is called for tripping.
Sharks power play.
2P: 12:39 | 1-1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 11, 2025
Quick 2 on 1 situation for Utah.
Doesn't end up in the back of the net but what a pass from Kerfoot.
Perfectly floated saucer right on Stenlund's tape.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Schmaltz was just tripped right in front of Utah's bench.
Ref said play on.
Interesting.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
It’s all tied up after ✌️in SLC after Schmaltz found the back of the net in the second period.
SOG
Utah 16
San Jose 12pic.twitter.com/hlGLK1HgaQ— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 11, 2025
CLAYTON KELLER SCORES AND UTAH LEADS 2-1!
After missing a 1 on 1 with the goaltender, he absolutely sniped Georgiev from a distance.
The captain stays 🔥
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Interference confirmed. No goal.
That's soft IMO. https://t.co/NeYvJ1qcGP
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Veggie chants have returned to Delta Center.
About time too 🥦
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
BARRETT HAYTON SCORES AND UTAH TAKES A LATE 2-1 LEAD!!!!!
1:32 remaining in the third.
CLUTCH.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
The call is deemed a 4-minute double minor.
Utah needs a MASSIVE PK here. https://t.co/BaZvJP3tJJ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
UTAH HAS WON A GAME AT HOME!!!!!!!
Final score
Utah 2
Sharks 1#UtahHC— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 11, 2025
Utah Hockey Club games can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on the KSL Sports app or 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. Listen to Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
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Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
