William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores against Karel Vejmelka #70 of the Utah Hockey Club during the second period at Scotiabank Arena on November 24, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, Illinois – Utah Hockey Club overcame a porous defensive second period to grab a gigantic point in a 4-3 overtime loss to Chicago. It was Utah’s 18th overtime game, the most in the NHL.
The Blackhawks (20-35-8, 49 points) host Utah HC (28-25-10, 66 points) at the United Center on Friday, March 7. Chicago is the second-worst team in the Western Conference, while Utah is one of four teams battling for the final wild-card spot in the West.
Took a point. pic.twitter.com/I9EQAz4EEf
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
Captain Clayton Keller is wearing the ‘C’ with pride as he sits tenth in the NHL with 70 points. He leads the team with 48 assists and is second behind Dylan Guenther with 22 goals. Guenther’s 23 goals and 22 assists are both career-highs.
Karel Vejmelka has been steady between the pipes, earning a five-year contract extension for his efforts. ‘Veggie’ allows 2.44 goals per game while stopping 91.2 percent of the shots he faces.
“Veggie was a huge one for us…the way he plays,” Utah HC GM Bill Armstrong said of the extension. “He saved our season. He’s come in there and just done an amazing job. He comes to work every single day. He’s great around his teammates…So that was a big one for us.”
Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen led Chicago with 49 points each. Ryan Donato has a team-high 23 goals.
Utah escaped the trade deadline with one move. The team acquired Chicago’s 2026 fifth-round draft choice in exchange for Shea Weber’s contract, the rights to defenseman Victor Soderstrom, and forward Aku Raty.
One minor deal for #UtahHC today.
Clearing out $7.8 million of cap space for next year by trading Shea Webers contract
Utah acquires:
Chicagos 2026 fifth round draft choice #blackhawks acquire:
Shea Weber’s contract
Rights to defenseman Victor Soderstrom
Forward Aku Raty— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 7, 2025
“A little bit of housekeeping on our end,” Armstrong commented. “I think it helps us being able to accumulate some cap space next year and tied up a few loose ends too…We were able get that done and get that accomplished now instead of waiting till the draft.”
Utah Hockey Club heads into the season’s final 20 games with momentum and a long road to climb in the West. Every win is critical if the team wants to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Thoughts on the deadline:
1) Utah will now have approximately $22M to go shopping with in the offseason. That will allow them to take some SERIOUS swings.
2) There was no reason for Utah to do anything at the deadline. They made their moves last summer & didn’t have much to…— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 7, 2025
Per Tourigny,
Karel Vejmelka will start in net tonight against Chicago.
They also have a few game time decisions again.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 7, 2025
Tonight’s lines ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Yq1a2l6Lle
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
Time to cheer on the fellas! #UtahHC | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/Li87ksjvGf
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
LISTEN LIVE: @utahhockeyclub wraps up their road trip against the @NHLBlackhawks on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/LxwDaj9dg0 pic.twitter.com/Ehr0EngSUl
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 8, 2025
NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES AND UTAH LEADS 1-0 EARLY!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Suffocating forecheck and Schmaltz takes advantage of a Grade A chance.
Utah is absolutely buzzing to start this game. https://t.co/OUQZi3x7wY
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Nick Schmaltz sniper gives @utahhockeyclub early lead.https://t.co/O97oCA4Dzh
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 8, 2025
The physicality and relentless pressure of Utah's third line has made such a difference for the team.
It's the type of line that opposing teams groan about facing because of their size, non-stop motor, & ability to punish you.
Crouse has been so much better with Doan & McBain.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Karel Vejmelka just casually making an elite glove save.
Dude is just so good at hockey.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Kesselring with a delay of game penalty.
Blackhawks with their first PP.
1P: 11:02 | 1-0 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Blackhawks called for interference.
Utah to the PP.
1P: 6:45 | 1-0 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Carcone is fearless.
He can flat out fight. Not afraid of anybody either and is willing to defend his teammates.
Donato absolutely asked for it with that nonsense on Cooley.
Carcone answered the call.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Carcone let Donato have it & rightfully so.
No fear.pic.twitter.com/FoKfU52mfG
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
The play Olli Maatta made in the final minute of the first by racing back and disrupting a breakaway chance for the Blackhawks is the exact reason Utah just extended him for 3 years.
Mr. Reliable on the blue line.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Fun period of hockey 💪 pic.twitter.com/6SuPY6FBxQ
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
Spencer Knight has kept Chicago in the game.
What an acquisition by the Blackhawks this week. He’s solid.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Hawks tie the game.
Bad turnover in the defensive zone led to multiple opportunities and finally Chicago buried one.
1-1 midway through the second period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Big pad save from Vejmelka in close.
Chicago has all the momentum right now. Wild what one goal can do.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Vejmelka bails Utah out again with a save on a breakaway opportunity for Chicago.
Huge stop with the glove.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Chicago takes the lead.
Utah is struggling defensively right now.
2-1 Blackhawks
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Liam O'Brien has dropped the gloves with Pat Maroon.
Good time to fight. Utah needs to get the momentum back.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
My goodness, Spencer Knight has been unbeatable since that first Utah goal.
He's stopping anything and everything.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Hawks convert.
3-1 Chicago. Ice has completely tilted in favor of Chicago. Utah's defense with one of their worst periods in some time. https://t.co/nehufs9Vks
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Important third on deck. pic.twitter.com/Amr1C9p2EZ
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
Dylan Guenther lost his blade and then paddled his way over to the bench to get it replaced.
That was actually very impressive. Most players need some help to get to the bench.
He made it look easy.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
MARINO SCORES AND UTAH MAKES IT A ONE GOAL GAME.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Pretty shot from deep.
Still work to be done in order to tie this game up late. https://t.co/cqd2k5cAnt
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Dylan Guenther is tripped by Bedard and Utah will go on the PP at a critical time.
Have to score here.
8:30 remaining.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Captain Clutch finds the back of the net to tie the game.
Textbook movement and what a slapper. Perfectly placed. Bar down 😮💨 https://t.co/0BW8RE6weg
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
2️⃣ gigantic third-period goals help @utahhockeyclub tie the @NHLBlackhawks https://t.co/78H14cKs2y
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 8, 2025
Tied after three periods and Utah will head to OT against Chicago.
Every single point matters at this point in the season and to get any from this game after that abysmal second period is a huge win.
We'll see if they can get the second, but one is a victory.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Overtime. pic.twitter.com/hNN7llemtF
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 8, 2025
Barrett Hayton was just stuffed on the goal line by Knight.
What a chance in OT but the game rolls on.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
3 on 3 hockey is insane.
Best OT format in professional sports.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Bedard wins it in OT.
Utah walks away with a point and 3 on the road trip.
Unfortunate not to get the second but they battled hard to get something out of a game that seemed out of reach.
Making the playoffs can come down to a point. Still an impressive performance.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 8, 2025
Utah Hockey Club games can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on the KSL Sports app or 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. Listen to Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Hockey Club here.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
