SALT LAKE CITY — The game took a dramatic turn for the Utah captain Clayton Keller during Tuesday night’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, when a puck inadvertently struck him in the face just a minute into the second period.

A deflected shot from his teammate, Michael Kesselring, soared above and hit Keller, prompting him to immediately remove his helmet and glide off the ice in visible distress before heading directly to the locker room.

Fortunately, Keller made a remarkable comeback on the ice with 4:40 remaining in the second period, despite sporting noticeable swelling and a cut above his eye. Just 40 seconds after his return, he provided an assist on Utah’s initial goal of the game and later sealed the victory with an empty-netter, contributing to a 5-2 win against the Jets.

“I got lucky,” Keller remarked post-game, showing off a dozen stitches and a bruised eyelid. “It didn’t catch my eye. It was so quick; you don’t really feel much. I tried to look through my eye, and I realized I could, so I wasn’t overly concerned after that.”

His rapid return and display of resilience significantly shifted the momentum in favor of Utah, resulting in a second consecutive home victory, and capping off a lengthy seven-game homestand with a triumphant finish.

“His return, without a moment’s hesitation and no doubts in his head, was fantastic,” noted Utah coach Andre Tourigny, praising Keller’s spirit.

In recent performances, Keller has been on fire, securing 10 goals and 20 assists in his last 22 games. He put up a stellar performance in Utah’s previous match against St. Louis, recording one goal and three assists, which tied his NHL career high with four points. Currently, Keller leads the expansion team with an impressive total of 50 points, which includes 34 assists for the season.