CALGARY, Alberta – Lawson Crouse delivered a standout performance with two goals, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday evening. This win marked a significant turnaround for Utah, breaking a five-game streak without a victory.
Joining Crouse on the scoresheet were Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, and Kevin Stenlund, who sealed the match with a goal into an empty net. This victory improved Utah’s record to 17-15-6, while Karel Vejmelka impressively turned away 23 shots from the Flames.
On the other side, Calgary saw goals from Blake Coleman, Connor Zary, and Brayden Pachal, with Dan Vladar making 21 saves in net.
Entering the final period down 3-2, Utah made a comeback, scoring two quick goals in under two minutes. Keller kicked off the rally by redirecting a shot from Olli Maatta just 47 seconds into the period to equalize. Crouse then netted what would be the game-winner at 2:35, connecting on a pass from Nick Bjugstad and beating Vladar with a precise shot.
In terms of notable developments, Utah is currently battling an illness sweeping through the team, with Keller missing a recent game due to the illness. Additionally, Matias Maccelli, who had been filling in for Keller on the top line, also sat out this matchup due to health concerns.
From Calgary’s perspective, the team had to cope with the loss of Nazem Kadri for an extended duration due to penalties. Kadri and Liam O’Brien had a physical exchange during the second period, leading to both players receiving 10-minute misconducts for their ongoing disputes after the whistle. Notably, Utah scored both the tying and go-ahead goals in the third period while Kadri was still serving his penalty.
A crucial statistic from the game indicates that Calgary’s record now stands at 10-1-1 when leading after the second period, a stark reminder of their missed opportunity to secure a win.
Looking ahead, both teams will see action again on Saturday night, with Utah traveling to face Dallas, while Calgary prepares to host Nashville.
