ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: Barrett Hayton #27 of Utah Hockey Club (C) celebrates a second period goal by Mikhail Sergachev #98 against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on October 10, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – Utah Hockey center Barrett Hayton gave the club an early lead against the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Assisted by Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, Hayton sent a snap shot toward the top shelf and drilled the back of the net.
What a feed from Keller but what a move by Hayton.
He’s had an unreal start to this season. Breakout year? https://t.co/GiA2QD2Hd8
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 12, 2024
With the first-period score, Hayton now has a goal in all three of the Utah HC’s first three games.
Utah led for almost the entire game in the home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks. In game two against the Islanders, they were fighting from behind for much of the game.
Playing at a deficit is a recipe for disaster, especially on the road. Hayton looked to avoid that situation with his third goal of the year.
BARRETT HAYTON PUTS US ON THE BOARD FIRST!
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) October 12, 2024
The lead held for over five minutes before New York was able to find an equalizer with 11 minutes left in the first period.
Even though the Garden livened up after the score, it still felt like Utah held a slight momentum advantage.
While it’s only been two games since the start of the new NHL season, the Utah Hockey Club has been one of the hottest teams offensively in the league.
According to Captain Clayton Keller, Utah has found success by going back to the basics and executing inside close to the net.
With 10 goals in two games, Utah is tied with the Boston Bruins for the third most goals in the NHL. A season ago, it took the Coyotes four games to reach 10 goals as they were shut out once and only scored a single goal against the Rangers during that same stretch.
So, what’s working for the Utah Hockey Club early on this season? Aside from Dylan Guenther being an absolute menace offensively, Keller says it’s been their ability to get inside and return to the basics that has yielded an onslaught of goals through the first two games.
Through 2 games, the UHC is one of the top scoring teams in the NHL.
Clayton Keller said it’s been all about the basics and getting inside to create opportunities.#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/9pURq1xEx1
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 12, 2024
“Just getting to the inside and a lot of traffic as well,” Keller said. “We started off camp a little slow getting inside and just trying to make plays every time. We’ve kind of simplified it down a little bit and just going back to the basics. When you do that, the other plays open up. We’re going to continue to that, especially tonight.”
If you go back and watch the 10 goals Utah has scored, they’ve all come relatively close to the net with a plethora of bodies in front. Guenther’s first came near the top of the slot, Keller’s was on the doorstep, Barrett Hayton has scored twice on tips, Crouse netted one from the slot against the Islanders and Josh Doan tied the game late by crashing the net hard.
