Utah Picks Up 3-1 Win Over Calgary

SALT LAKE CITY - In a physical battle with plenty of momentum swings, Utah Hockey Club picked up a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. The victory secured a season sweep for Utah over their Western Conference counterpart. Kevin Stenlund, Barrett Hayton, and Clayton Keller (empty net) scored for Utah while Rasmus Andersson had Calgary’s lone goal.

“Great game by (Vejmelka), I think he was elite,” head coach André Tourigny shared after the win. “I think the first two periods we were really stingy defensively. We had a lot of chances offensively. We could have closed the game, separated ourselves, we didn’t but we stayed with it. In the third I like our mindset in terms of urgency. Defensively I think we backed up a little bit too much but other than that I think we found a way, had big kills as well.”

“Sticking with it,” Barrett Hayton shared postgame about the most important element of the team’s play in the win. “Obviously it’s a playoff game for both teams, you knew it was going to be a war until the end. Our last seven games have been unreal. A lot of comeback wins in that so we knew we (needed) to have urgency the whole time and stick with it.”

Kevin Stenlund opened the scoring in the final three minutes of the first period. Alexander Kerfoot passed to an open Stenlund in the slot and the forward capitalized. The goal was Stenlund's 12th of the season and Ian Cole also picked up an assist on the goal.

Early in the second period, a shot by Mikael Backlund hit off Nick DeSimone in front of the net. Vejmelka made the save; however, it was reviewed to see if the puck had crossed the goal line. After a review, it was deemed the puck did not cross and the game continued.

Two and a half minutes into the second period, Utah doubled its lead when Barrett Hayton scored his 18th of the season. Nick Schmaltz stripped the puck in the neutral zone and passed it to Hayton. In a quick give and go with Sean Durzi, Hayton found space down low and scored, going five-hole.

Tensions rose halfway through the game when Mikhail Sergachev was sent off for roughing. At the same time, Calgary was assessed a bench minor for too many men on the ice. With some 4-on-4 hockey underway, Utah had a rush chance that ended with Hayton pressing to score. After the whistle, Joel Hanley and Hayton were both sent off for minor penalties after a scrum broke out.

With seven minutes left in the second period, Rasmus Andersson’s shot from the blue line found the back of the next to get Calgary on the board. In the final two minutes of the period, Nick Schmaltz was called for a tripping penalty. Utah’s penalty kill came up strong with several clears and a big block from Mikhail Sergachev.

Six and a half minutes into the third period, Blake Coleman’s shot was denied by Vejmelka. To support his goaltender, Durzi put his body on the line to help thwart any potential rebound opportunities. Calgary’s rebound attempt went wide, and Utah recovered from the scramble. With under seven minutes left in regulation, and Calgary on the power play, Vejmelka robbed Joel Farabee from tying the game. Calgary pulled its goaltender, searching for the game tying goal; however, Clayton Keller's empty net goal with 17 seconds left secured the win.

As it has been all season, Delta Center was a strong crowd and gave Utah a true home ice advantage. The players complimented the energy from the fans following the win.

“It’s unreal, it’s been a lot of fun,” Hayton shared. “They take a lot of pride in the little things. You see end of the second, Sergachev got a huge block and everyone’s going crazy and the clears. Obviously the goals and stuff like that they go nuts, but it’s often the little things. We have a lot of pride playing in front of these fans and it’s a lot of fun.”

“It’s fun to play every night in front of our home crowd,” Vejmelka explained. “They give us special energy and it’s kind of cool to play especially in those kind of games. We are still in the hunt so we need every point. It was a fun game.”

Other Notes from Tonight’s Game:

Contributing the game’s opening goal, the line of Alexander Kerfoot, Kevin Stenlund, and Nick Bjugstad continues to have a positive impact for Utah.

“For a few nights in a row now they’re playing solid,” Tourigny shared. “They’re assertive, and they’re heavy on the puck, they’re heavy down low, they’re confident and they’re so dialed in. The trust is through the roof.”

Karel Vejmelka started his 18^th consecutive start. He finished the game with 33 saves on 34 shots.

“I feel pretty normal,” Vejmelka said on his workload. “I don’t really feel like I’ve played a lot but it’s fun to play. We’re playing better and better and it’s great to know. It’s actually fun those kinds of games. I like to play under pressure. It’s part of it, and I really enjoy it.”

Coach Tourigny discussed how this workload will serve the goaltender down the line.

“At some point, if we’re in the 15, 16, 20, 24 game run in the playoffs, he needs to be able to sustain and it’s not easy. It’s tough. It’s tough mentally, it’s tough physically, and what he is going through now will help when that (does) happen because he will have been through it.”

Utah's penalty kill continues to come up big for the team as they did again tonight, killing off both of Calgary's power plays. Tourigny shared a fun story involving two of his penalty killers Alexander Kerfoot and Kevin Stenlund:

“Kerfoot and Stenlund are so good at the PK. A little story, a couple games ago, we’re here at home, we’re up by one, we’re killing one in the third. They cleared the puck and come to the bench about 20 seconds into the PK and I give it to them. I say ‘hey, you’re the two best penalty killers in the league and you’re changing after 20 seconds? What are you doing? Stay out there!’ They were looking at me like ‘what are you talking about?’ I said ‘hey, you’re the two best in the league you stay out there, we’ll tell you when to come in.’ That’s what I think of them.”

Utah’s homestand continues Thursday night with a game against the Los Angeles Kings. Tickets are available here!