SAN JOSE, Calif. — Clayton Keller netted a crucial power-play goal with just 43.8 seconds left on the clock, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a remarkable 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

The game saw Michael Carcone equalizing the score midway through the third period before Keller clinched the win for Utah during a 4-on-3 advantage, which came into play after Cody Ceci was penalized for high-sticking. The critical faceoff was won by Utah, allowing Keller to receive the puck in a prime position at the slot, where he skillfully fired it past goaltender Vitek Vanecek, marking his 10th goal of the season.

In addition to Keller, Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz also found the back of the net for Utah. Goalie Karel Vejmelka recorded 19 saves throughout the game. On the other side, San Jose was initially buoyed by Fabian Zetterlund, who propelled the Sharks to a 3-2 lead in the early stages of the third with a power-play goal. However, the Sharks ultimately fell short, with Alexander Wennberg and Mikael Granlund contributing to the scoreboard as well. Vanecek turned away 36 shots in a valiant effort.

Takeaways from the game highlighted Utah’s impressive performance as they secured four victories out of their last five contests and earned points in all five games, showcasing their resilience. Meanwhile, San Jose returned home following a 3-3 road trip and held an advantage early in the final frame but failed to maintain it, suffering their fourth defeat in five games.

A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Utah forward Kevin Stenlund delivered a controversial hit from behind on San Jose rookie Macklin Celebrini during the second period. The hit, which did not result in a penalty, drew ire from the Sharks, though Celebrini was able to continue playing. Earlier, Stenlund had tripped Celebrini in a preseason game, resulting in a fall that injured the young player’s ankle.

Statistics revealed that Celebrini, who assisted on Zetterlund’s goal, has amassed an impressive 20 points in his first 21 professional games. This performance aligns him with notable 18-year-old players from the past three decades, such as Sidney Crosby (25 points), Ryan Nugent Hopkins (22), and Patrick Kane (22).

Looking ahead, Utah is set to host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, while the Sharks will be taking on the Winnipeg Jets at home on Tuesday night.