Sunday night introduced one other win to the Utah Hockey Membership’s preseason marketing campaign, this time in opposition to a Central Division rival within the Colorado Avalanche. It was the crew’s first street preseason win in opposition to an Avalanche crew that had Justus Annunen in web who is anticipated to be the Avalanche’s backup this season. It was a giant night time for lots of Utah’s big-name gamers. Listed below are some takeaways from Sunday’s 6-3 win.
Dylan Guenther’s (Preseason) Recreation to Bear in mind
Dylan Guenther has been respectable this preseason after getting a giant contract extension from Utah. Nonetheless, Sunday’s sport was by far his finest. He began off the sport by unloading a robust shot from Mikhail Sergachev to attain Utah’s first aim on the facility play.
Guenther did virtually precisely the identical factor within the second interval when Clayton Keller minimize to the middle of the zone and slid a go to the Canadian ahead. Guenther ended his night time by giving Keller a no-look backhand go which was then put behind Annunen for the fifth aim of the sport.
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Guenther’s three-point night time was spectacular and dominant. He performed nicely on a line with Keller and Barrett Hayton. It might be a mixture that head coach Andre Tourigny finally goes again to if Nick Schmaltz, who often performs with Keller and Hayton, ever will get injured. It’s clear that there’s some kind of chemistry between the three gamers.
Guenther was finally named the primary star of the sport with Keller being named the second star. Each gamers got here away from the sport with three factors every. Sergachev additionally impressed, aiding on each of Guenther’s targets. He was finally named the third star of the sport.
One other participant that impressed offensively was Josh Doan who potted the eventual game-winning aim. The Scottsdale native has had some attractiveness all through the preseason however had but to attain a aim till Sunday’s sport. Whereas Doan would’ve doubtless made the lineup to start the season previous to the sport, his aim offers some reassurance he’ll be taking part in the Chicago Blackhawks subsequent week.
Tij Iginla’s First Recreation with Utah
After sitting out the primary half of Utah’s preseason, Tij Iginla lastly made his Utah debut Sunday night. The 2024 first-round draft choose hadn’t performed within the Rookie Faceoff in Los Angeles both as a result of an harm. Nonetheless, you couldn’t have seen as he performed a strong sport in opposition to the Avalanche.
Whereas Iginla didn’t choose up any factors in Utah’s win, he helped arrange Liam O’Brien’s eventual shot that Doan put into the again of the web. Much like his fellow 2024 first-round choose, Cole Beaudoin, who was despatched again to the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts on Saturday, he made an impression within the lineup, which is admittedly what you wish to see out of Utah’s youthful gamers.
It’s anticipated that Iginla will finally be returned to the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets to start the 2024-25 season. The ahead can have as a lot taking part in time as he wants there and can proceed his improvement so he might be higher for subsequent yr’s preseason. He would possibly play one other sport for Utah this season earlier than being despatched again, but when he doesn’t, his Utah debut will certainly be remembered as a powerful one.
Physicality A part of Utah’s Id
A part of the rationale why Utah took full management over the sport within the second and third durations was their physicality. It’s changing into a part of their id. Over the course of the preseason, it’s been seen with a few of Utah’s eventual regulars like Kevin Stenlund, Jack McBain, and Liam O’Brien. It’s additionally been seen with some gamers that may assist make up Utah’s AHL crew, the Tucson Roadrunners, a tough crew to play in opposition to like Montana Onyebuchi.
Patrik Koch was one other bodily risk throughout Utah’s sport in opposition to the Avalanche. He additionally produced decently, posting three assists. He’s anticipated to be one of many gamers who fights till almost the top for a roster spot in Utah. The defenseman performed one sport final season within the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes and 63 video games with the Roadrunners. Now, he’s seeking to win a spot on Tourigny’s crew.
It’s anticipated that Utah will announce one other spherical of roster cuts someday this week because the crew heads into their remaining three preseason video games. The Roadrunners begin their coaching camp on Tuesday so Tourigny is anticipated to maintain Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin busy by supplying him with extra gamers. Utah’s camp at present has 41 gamers.
Utah is now 3-1-0 within the preseason. They’ll journey to San Jose on Tuesday to play the Sharks. The Sharks are 1-2-0 to this point within the preseason and are coming off a 3-2 extra time win over the Anaheim Geese. They may have high prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith within the lineup.
