Kesselring, Utah Hockey Club rally, top Bruins in OT

SALT LAKE CITY -- Michael Kesselring scored 2:46 into overtime, and the Utah Hockey Club rallied for a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins at Delta Center on Saturday.

Kesselring scored on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle off a pass from Logan Cooley to give Utah its first overtime victory at home in franchise history.

“They’re a good team over there, [it was a] tight-checking game,” Kesselring said. “I thought everybody brought their 'A' game today, it was a pretty complete game.”

Kesselring’s goal came after Vladislav Kolyachonok tied it at 14:51 of the third period, skating in from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Nick Schmaltz and beating goalie Jeremy Swayman on the backhand.

“It feels good,” Kolyachonok said. “It’s a good team effort, a good pass, and all five guys on the ice did a great job.”

It was the first goal of the season for the 23-year-old defenseman, who was playing in just his 45^th NHL game after playing his first 32 with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021-22. He spent the majority of the past three seasons with Tuscon of the American Hockey League.

“[Kolyachonok] has all the attributes, he just needs to keep growing," Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. "He’s shown greatness in every game… I think he played a really good game tonight.”

Connor Ingram made 22 saves for Utah (4-1-1), which had lost two in a row. Utah, which has gone to overtime in two straight games (5-4 loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday) and in four of its past five, has won three of four games in the extra period this season.

“I think we played a really solid game on both sides of the puck,” Tourigny said. “Our four lines were rolling and were about the same.”

Cole Koepke scored the lone goal for the Bruins (3-2-1), who were playing the second game of a three-game road trip. Swayman made 30 saves.

“I thought they started faster than us,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “I thought they were more determined than we were, they were more relentless. I didn't think we managed pucks very well because of their sticks.”

Koepke gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 12:49 of the second period, scoring on a wrist shot from the right circle on the rush for his third goal of the season.

“I knew [Brad Marchand] was coming out on his down stick side,” Koepke said. “I just tried to get it far side and either have it go in like it did or hopefully a rebound pop onto his side.”

Boston looked to extend its lead on the power play at 4:08 of the third, but Ingram was able to stop Pavel Zacha at the top of the crease.

Utah then appeared to tie the game at 6:48 when Kailer Yamamoto scored off a rebound, but the Bruins challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned following video review.

Tourigny commended Utah for its response after the play.

"I think that showed leadership,” Tourigny said. “I think our leaders do a good job, our young leaders do a really good job at staying with it and setting a good example. If you want to win, we have to do those things."

Six players, including four forwards, had a point for Utah in the win.

“I think that’s a strength of our team up front, we have depth,” Tourigny said. “There’s four lines that can score every night or can play against everybody.”

NOTE: Utah became the 10th franchise in NHL history to win each of its first two home games. It had not been done since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992-93.