SALT LAKE CITY — In an exciting matchup on Saturday evening, the Utah Hockey Club triumphed over the St. Louis Blues with a score of 4-2. Clayton Keller played a pivotal role in the victory, racking up one goal and three assists. Apart from him, Logan Cooley contributed significantly with one goal and two assists, while Michael Kesselring and Nick Schmaltz also added to the scoreline, marking a much-needed win for Utah after facing a three-game losing streak. This victory improved Utah’s overall record to 2-4-1 in their last seven games, and Connor Ingram was solid in net, stopping 22 of the shots he faced.
The match began with an early goal from the Blues, as Tyler Tucker found the net just 2:05 into the first period. Tucker’s long-range shot came after Oskar Sundqvist effectively dished the puck out following a faceoff win. However, the tide quickly turned, with Utah responding vigorously. The home team scored three goals within a span of just 4.5 minutes, swiftly taking control of the game and establishing a 3-1 lead in the first period. Kesselring tied the game with a power-play goal at the 6:06 mark, and Schmaltz followed with a close-range strike at 8:25. Keller stretched the lead to two goals at 9:29, showcasing his skill in turning and firing the puck into the net.
In the second period, the Blues attempted to close the gap when Jake Neighbours scored on the power play just 1:32 in. Yet, Cooley answered back for Utah, finding the back of the net again with 9:18 remaining in the period, giving Utah a stronger lead.
In terms of takeaways from the game, the Blues have struggled to find success when trailing after two periods, managing only two wins in their last 21 such situations. For Utah, Keller’s outstanding performance marked the fourth time in his NHL career that he recorded at least three points in a single period – a testament to his offensive capabilities.
The key moment in this match was undoubtedly Utah’s rapid three-goal outburst in the first period, which provided a significant cushion that helped secure their seventh victory on home ice this season. A noteworthy statistic from the game reveals that Utah generated an impressive 13 shots on goal and scored three goals within the first 11 minutes.
Looking ahead, the Blues will take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, while Utah is set to welcome the Winnipeg squad.
