Even with two of their finest defensemen out for the foreseeable future, the Utah Hockey Membership and their protection made positive to point out that they’re nonetheless a formidable opponent. With each of their targets coming from their six defensemen, Utah got here up large in time beyond regulation in opposition to the Boston Bruins of their second-ever dwelling recreation on Saturday evening. It was one of many higher video games the latest NHL staff has performed this season. Listed here are some takeaways from the 2-1 win.
Utah’s Defensemen Stepping Up
With the harm to Sean Durzi and the replace on the harm to John Marino, Utah’s deep blue line that everybody thought would enhance because of the offseason strikes has impulsively gotten skinny. Nevertheless, Saturday’s recreation might have had folks suppose in any other case.
It was Vladislav Kolyachonok‘s time to shine in opposition to the Bruins. The Belarusian defenseman impressed head coach Andre Tourigny a lot in preseason that he saved him on the roster going into the season. Tourigny’s gamble has paid off as far as Kolyachonok has performed decently in a bottom-pairing position whereas the staff continues with out a few of its finest defensemen.
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Kolyachonok obtained a pleasant go from Nick Schmaltz and turned on the jets coming into the Bruins’ zone. Closing in on the web, the defenseman took a pleasant onerous shot along with his backhand to get it previous Jeremy Swayman for the game-tying objective with 5 minutes remaining. It was a spotlight reel objective that ended up on all the NHL’s social media platforms.
Each of the targets scored by Utah have been scored by defensemen which is spectacular contemplating most of their defensemen are injured together with their finest offensive weapon on the blue line in Durzi. It wasn’t simply Kolyachonok who was having a giant evening. Many of the different defensemen had actually good video games together with Mikhail Sergachev who was blocking pictures, even taking some actually onerous ones that despatched him to the bench for a few minutes.
Whereas the blue line appears to be a weak level for this staff as soon as once more, Utah is set to guarantee that isn’t so. Even when extra accidents occur to the blue line which I’m positive Tourigny is hoping doesn’t occur, they do have some assets within the American Hockey League (AHL). Maveric Lamoureux, who was drafted within the first spherical a few years again, has seemed actually good to this point this season, even scoring his first professional objective on Saturday in opposition to the Texas Stars. Artem Duda is one other intriguing title though he may want extra expertise with the Roadrunners. In any case, whereas shedding Durzi and Marino is big for Utah, they shouldn’t be underestimated with the gamers that stay wholesome.
Kesselring Seals It in OT
It was one in every of Utah’s homegrown defensemen, Michael Kesselring, who sealed the deal for his staff in time beyond regulation. With the staff coming off of an influence play, Logan Cooley was capable of ship a fast go throughout the zone to the American defenseman who despatched the puck flying behind Swayman for the OT winner. It’s Kesselring’s second objective with Utah and his fourth level in six video games.
Kesselring was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2018. He by no means appeared in a recreation with the Oilers and was later packaged up with a draft decide and traded to the Arizona Coyotes for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen in 2023. After the commerce, the defenseman appeared in a few video games in 2022-23 for the staff however actually made a huge impact the next season when he was known as up from the Tucson Roadrunners early within the season. Kesselring impressed and has remained a fixture on their blue line ever since.
Kesselring’s OT winner brings dwelling a giant win for Utah. It was one other win in opposition to a playoff staff from final season and a feared opponent within the Jap Convention. It additionally offers them extra factors to begin the season off in an honest place within the standings.
Utah’s Dwelling Streak Begins
Maybe the massive factor for the gamers apart from the win is that they’re lastly again on dwelling ice. Utah hasn’t performed on the Delta Middle since early October for his or her dwelling opener in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s been an extended highway journey that has despatched them by means of a difficult three-game jap seaboard swing after which a visit instantly after to the opposite aspect of the nation to play the Anaheim Geese.
Not solely will the gamers be sleeping in their very own houses which is nice for the locker room vitality however followers will lastly get to see their new staff for an prolonged time frame. 4 of their subsequent 5 video games are at Delta Middle except a fast flight out to southern California once more to play the LA Kings. That could possibly be an enormous issue for this staff who hasn’t misplaced a recreation of their new constructing but and has performed a few of their finest hockey this season in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Utah is now 4-1-1 of their first six video games of their inaugural season which at present sits them second within the Central Division proper behind the Dallas Stars. They’ll flip their consideration now to the Ottawa Senators who’re at present 3-2-0 to start their season. The Senators are coming off a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
