SALT LAKE CITY – While some teams take their foot off the gas in the third period, the Utah Hockey Club did the opposite against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Already leading by two, Utah scored three unanswered in the third as they cruised to a blowout victory over Minnesota.

HE’S SO COOLey 😎 pic.twitter.com/k9ENjqyMz5

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 28, 2025

To be expected, it was Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller who led the late offensive onslaught.

It started with a Nick Schmaltz goal that both Cooley and Keller got assist credit for. Next up was Keller whose snap shot was assisted by Schmaltz and Mikhail Sergachev. The cherry on top was delivered by Cooley by way of Keller and Hayton.

RELATED: Goals, Grit, And Gloves Dropped – Utah Muscles Into Early Lead Over Wild

Masterclass from Cools and Schmaltzy to take a 4-1 lead! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W5dFc76gaa

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 28, 2025

With one goal and four assists, Keller set a career-high for points in a single game.

The Utah Hockey Club is playing every game down the stretch with their backs against the wall. They responded in the best way possible as they wiped the Wild at Delta Center.

Playoff Implications Weighing Heavy On Utah Hockey Club As They Host Wild

As the Utah Hockey Club embarks on the final stretch of their inaugural season, every game has to be treated like a game seven.

Utah is 11 points back from an outright bid into the postseason and four points back from the Wild Card. The Hockey Club has heated up at the perfect time as they enter the Thursday matchup with two straight victories and five wins in their last seven games.

This is the fourth time these teams will face off this season. Utah has a slight advantage in the season series with two wins and one shootout loss.

Pregame Standings Outlook

Before the final matchup between Minnesota and Utah, the division rivals have a relatively different outlook on the final stretch of the NHL season.

With a 26-24-9 record, Utah sits fifth in the Central Division and 10th in the Western Conference. At 34-20-4, Minnesota holds the third spot in the Central Division and the fourth spot in the conference.

The Hockey Club has an 11-12-6 record on the road while the Wild are 21-7-3 at home. Utah comes in with five wins in its last seven games while Minnesota has four wins in its last seven.

Utah Hockey Club Gameday Reading

• Lawson Crouse Leads Utah HC To Critical Win Over Chicago
• Utah HC: Josh Doan Has Perfectly Exemplified Embracing Adversity
• Ryan Smith Says Outdoor NHL Game Is ‘In Motion’
• Connor Bedard Praises Utah HC, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther
• Captain Clayton Keller Makes A Fan For Life Following Kings Game
• Utah Hockey Club Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive With Win Over Canucks
• Utah Hockey Club Loses To LA Kings Despite Barrett Hayton Hatty
• Utah Hockey Club GM Talks Trade Deadline, Final Stretch, Future Prospects
• McDavid, Team Canada Defeat USA In Four Nations Final

Follow Utah HC With KSL Sports

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. 

Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Hockey Club here.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

Want more coverage of Utah Hockey? Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay updated on all your favorite teams.

Follow @CHoltSports