SALT LAKE CITY — In a decisive performance on Monday night, Connor Ingram recorded 23 saves, while Olli Maatta netted his inaugural goal for the Utah Hockey Club, leading the team to a 5-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Utah squad benefitted from impressive contributions as Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, Matias Maccelli, and Clayton Keller also found the back of the net, marking their second straight victory on home ice. Hayton, along with teammates Josh Doan and Nick Schmaltz, each provided two assists during the match.
On the other side, Connor Hellebuyck kept busy in the Jets’ goal, stopping 23 shots. Nino Niederreiter and Dylan DeMelo managed to score in the third period, preventing the Jets from experiencing their second shutout of the current season.
Keller’s night took an early turn when he left the ice just a minute into the second period after taking a high shot from teammate Michael Kesselring directly to the face. Despite going to the locker room to tend to a cut and swelling above his eye, Keller returned with 4:40 remaining in the period. Once back, he played a pivotal role in assisting Maatta’s goal that broke the ice for Utah just 40 seconds later. Cooley added to the scoreboard with a breakaway goal, securing a 2-0 lead with only 17.9 seconds left in the second period.
The third period showcased even more dominance from Utah, as both Hayton and Maccelli scored in quick succession, extending the lead to 4-0. Although the Jets attempted a comeback with goals from Niederreiter and DeMelo within a span of 3:16, making it 4-2, Keller eventually sealed the game with an empty-net goal at the 2:05 mark.
Key insights from the game include the fact that the Jets were playing their first road match in January after beginning the year with a stretch of eight home games. Utah showcased formidable defense, allowing only one shot on goal during the first ten minutes of play and holding Winnipeg scoreless until nearly the halfway mark of the third period.
A significant turning point arrived late in the second period when Maatta and Cooley scored just 3:42 apart, igniting Utah’s offensive momentum. Notably, Utah has maintained an impressive average of 3.8 goals in their last four games.
Looking ahead, the Jets will face off against Colorado on Wednesday, while Utah is set to play at Minnesota on Thursday.
