SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 14: Jani Nyman #38 of the Seattle Kraken skates against Josh Doan #91 of the Utah Hockey Club during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena on March 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah Hockey Club couldn’t hang on to a second-period lead, surrendering three unanswered goals to close the night in a 3-2 loss to Seattle.
Utah HC (29-26-11, 69 points) embarks on a three-game road trip, beginning with the Seattle Kraken (29-34-4, 62 pts) on Friday, March 14. Utah and St. Louis started the day two points behind Calgary and Vancouver in a four-team sprint to the final Western Conference Wild Card spot.
The first-year franchise seeks its second consecutive win with 16 regular season games remaining. At 16-12-4, Utah has the tenth-best road record in the NHL this season. Seattle is 15-15-4 at home.
Final. pic.twitter.com/Zijlp3MACr
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 15, 2025
Despite five points in his last four games, Clayton Keller has fallen to 11th in NHL points leaders with 74 (23 goals, 51 assists). The Captain’s four-game streak equals a four-gamer from Barrett Hayton.
Dylan Guenther takes the ice for the first time since his game-winner against Anaheim. It was his eighth game-winner of the year, third-best in the league. Guenther is third on the team with 48 points (24 goals, 24 assists), trailing Nick Schmaltz and his 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists). Former Stanley Cup Champion Mikhail Sergachev is Utah’s top-scoring defenseman with 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points.
Karel Vejmelka is expected to make his ninth-straight start in goal tonight. Vejmelka is enjoying a career year, sitting ninth in the league with 2.47 goals against. His .909 save percentage is 14th.
🥕🥬🥦🥒🥗🫛🫑 pic.twitter.com/6EPwhXGLMJ
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 14, 2025
Seattle is still looking for its first 50-point scorer, with Chandler Stephenson (11 goals, 34 assists) and Jared McCann (16 goals, 29 assists) leading the way with 45. Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen lead Seattle with 19 goals.
Joey Daccord has been Seattle’s top goalie. He is 22-18-3 while allowing 2.68 goals against and a .909 save percentage.
The Kraken are 3-3 in January and 5-5 in their last ten games. Utah is 6-2-2 in its previous ten.
Confirmed by Tourigny, Vejmelka in net.
No changes to the lineup.
Utah continues to roll with what is working as they push for the playoffs. https://t.co/XyEjIwHH75
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 14, 2025
⏰ Almost go time. pic.twitter.com/o215dH58Gw
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 15, 2025
Into the deep. #UtahHC | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/QG1naCfTFM
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 15, 2025
LISTEN LIVE: @utahhockeyclub is on the road to face the @SeattleKraken on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/f6os4JuEKG pic.twitter.com/ePP6l0y1VL
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
Kraken score early on a big rebound.
1-0 Seattle less than a minute in.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Seattle is flying early. Lots of pressure on the forecheck which is generating chances in close.
Utah looks a little disoriented.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Logan Cooley to the box for slashing.
Kraken with the first PP of the night.
1P: 17:02 | 1-0 Seattle
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Kraken penalty for cross checking Cooley.#UtahHC to the power play.
1P: 7:44 | 1-0 Seattle
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
Kevin Stenlund to the box for high sticking.
1P: 5:25 | 1-0 Seattle
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
Utah is struggling to get shots on net through the first period.
Seattle is playing well defensively, but Utah needs to get more pucks on Grubauer.
2 through 15 minutes is just not enough.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
SCHAMLTZ SCORES AND UTAH HAS TIED THIS HOCKEY GAME!
What a play by Stenlund right out of the penalty box.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Fresh out of the box, Stenlund made this goal happen by serving up an easy one for Schmaltz.
Utah needed something to get them going and 82 got it done. Phenomenal effort. https://t.co/EwOYZ1CLoB
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
End of the 1st in Seattle.
Utah 1
Seattle 1SOG
Utah 5
Seattle 9pic.twitter.com/kaNAKgkbJA— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
Kraken penalized for hooking.
Utah to the power play.
2P: 19:34 | 1-1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
KEVIN STENLUND SCORES AND UTAH LEADS 2-1!!!!
What a game for 82.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
This forehand-backhand play by Marino is filthy.
What a sequence by Utah to take the lead. https://t.co/jDHiEXdCcO
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
The @utahhockeyclub leads for the first time after Kevin Stenlund's 9️⃣thhttps://t.co/0EhRNgOXaZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
Seattle and Utah trading shots off the post.
High energy at both ends of the ice right now.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Kraken score and this game is tied 2-2.
2P: 1:06
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
End of the 2nd in Seattle.
Utah 2
Seattle 2SOG
Utah 17
Seattle 16pic.twitter.com/QmBuf2uXkz— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 15, 2025
This next period of hockey is wildly important for the Utah Hockey Club.
These are the moments that can define a season and determine if you get in or not.
Have to find a way to get it done.
2-2 to start the third.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Utah has been so careless with the puck over the last 2 minutes.
Really lucky to not have surrendered a goal but the Kraken will head to the PP after Kesselring is called for hooking.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
The goal has been overturned. Clearly hit the post.
Game remains tied. https://t.co/yPiG3AF5sf
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Kraken score and this one will count.
Brutal turnover by Sergachev behind the net.
3-2 Seattle.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Pure excellence from Grubauer in net. Three elite saves in a row to keep his team ahead.
Those were difficult shots, and he anticipated every single one.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 2025
Empty net goal for the Kraken and that will do it.
4-2 Seattle.
This one hurts.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 15, 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.
