SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 08: Liam O'Brien #38 of Utah Hockey Club argues during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Delta Center on October 08, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This game is the first for the franchise in Utah following their relocation from Arizona. The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Blackhawks 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – In search of a spark, Utah Hockey Club enforcer Liam ‘Spicy Tuna’ O’Brien electrified the Delta Center crowd when he dropped the gloves with Brendon Dillon.
Utah HC (27-24-9, 63 points) hosts the New Jersey Devils (32-22-6, 70 points) at Delta Center on Saturday, March 1. The Devils are third in the Metropolitan Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference with 70 points. Utah is two points behind Vancouver for a Western Conference Wild Card spot.
In mid-October, New Jersey shut out Utah 3-0, ending Utah’s three-game winning streak to start the season.
Great stuff from O’Brien.
Fighting is all about timing. https://t.co/IUaGaKbIVU
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 2, 2025
Mikhail Sergachev’s one-timer evened things at 1-1 at 10:03. O’Brien and Kevin Stenlund assisted Utah’s first goal. It was Sergachev’s 11th goal of the year.
Nothing like a Sergy celly.
Hell of a pass from O'Brien.
We're all tied up at Delta Center. https://t.co/mPANZ63PZF
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 2, 2025
The Devils’ lone goal came on a rebound chance when Nico Hischier slammed home a free puck. Luke Hughes and Tomas Tatar assisted the goal.
Utah HC has appeared a step slower than New Jersey’s speed. The Devils hold a 17-13 shot advantage.
Fully healthy for the first time this season, Utah Hockey Club looks like a team primed to go on an extended run. Three straight home wins against Western Conference teams, in which they have held opponents to a single goal, have the franchise within two points of a playoff spot in its inaugural season. Wins over Minnesota and Vancouver were especially meaningful as both teams are ahead of Utah in the standings.
The streak has also elevated Utah to a .500 record at home after a slow start to the season in front of their home fans.
Game 🏀 for Kells last night!#9️⃣ is tied for 9th most points in the @NHL overall 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/m0bwfRVfNE
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 28, 2025
Karel Vejmelka has been a steadying force in goal, improving to 16-15-4 while allowing 2.44 goals against with a 90.1 save percentage.
Captain Clayton Keller has two goals and seven assists during the winning streak, tallying a career-high five points in the club’s 6-1 taming of the Minnesota Wild. His outstanding performance earned Keller NHL Player of the Week honors.
Keller coming in hot 🔥
Coming off his first career 5-point night to lead the league in points & assists has Clayton Keller securing his spot as NHLPA Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/4pmunNdLv3
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) February 28, 2025
In his eighth season, Keller’s 69 points (22 goals, 47 assists) are the ninth most in the NHL this season. Keller is tied with Dylan Guenther for Utah’s goals lead. He has 12 more assists than Nick Schmaltz.
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.
