SALT LAKE CITY — In a thrilling finish, Mikhail Sergachev scored just under five minutes into overtime, securing a dramatic 3-2 win for the Utah Hockey Club against the Vancouver Canucks during Wednesday’s matchup.
The game took a turn in the third period when Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther both found the net, allowing Utah to mount a comeback after being down 2-0. Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka was sharp, making 24 saves throughout the contest, while Logan Cooley provided a spark with two assists.
For the Vancouver squad, goals came from Danton Heinen and Dakota Joshua, while goalie Thatcher Demko turned aside 28 shots to keep his team competitive. Quinn Hughes played a key role, assisting both of Vancouver’s goals.
Takeaways from the Game:
Utah has now extended its winning streak to three games, showcasing a solid performance late in the contest. Conversely, the Canucks experienced an overtime setback, leaving them tied with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights at 31 points in the Pacific Division standings.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Guenther netted a power-play goal with just 4:30 remaining, leveling the score at 2-2 after Utah had been trailing earlier in the period.
In terms of statistics, it was a significant victory for Utah, marking only their second win of the season when trailing after the second period, now holding a record of 2-10-3 in such situations. Unfortunately for Vancouver, this marked their first loss when leading after the second period this season.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will be on the road to face the Golden Knights on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club is set to visit the Wild on Friday.
This report has been updated to reflect that it was Dylan Guenther, not Nick Schmaltz, who scored for Utah in the third period.
