WASHINGTON, D.C.- Nick Schmaltz and the Utah Hockey Club faced off against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, getting Super Bowl Sunday started with some early morning hockey in the Nation’s Capital.
The Utah Hockey Club wasted no time in this matinee, despite playing in their second game of a back-to-back, scoring two goals in the first two minutes of the game.
Josh Doan opened the scoring with a shot from outside that, getting some help from a Lawson Crouse screen. The second came on a perfect pass from Dylan Guenther to Michael Carcone who scored the back-door goal.
Just a few minutes later, Washington got one back on a Power Play goal from Tom Wilson, but neither team was done scoring in the period.
Jack McBain combined with Michael Kesselring for a give-and-go goal on a breakaway to give the Hockey Club a two-goal lead once again, but once again struck on the Power Play thanks to Pierre-Luc Dubois.
The lone goal in the second period came from Dylan Guenther who sent a rocket past Logan Thompson on a Power Play, giving Utah a 4-2 lead entering the last period.
Washington, who had only lost four games at home all year, was not about to go away without a fight. Dylan Strome pulled the Capitals to within one during the first five minutes of the period, and then Washington pressed hard, chasing the equalizer. They wouldn’t find it until there were only 90 seconds to play, but Tom Wilson finally broke through for his second of the day, tying the game.
Utah and Washington traded punches in a thrilling overtime period, but even after five minutes of 3-on-3 hockey, there still wasn’t a winner.
In the shootout, Nick Schmaltz buried his attempt and Karel Vejmelka kept Washington off the board, giving Utah the win and an important two points going into the 4 Nations break.
Last one of the road trip.
📍: Capital One Arena
⏰: 10:30AM MT
📺: Utah HC+ and Utah 16
📻: KSL Sports Zone#UtahHC | @pacs_utah pic.twitter.com/utBaleGuec— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Who ya got?! 🫣🏈 #SuperBowlLIX pic.twitter.com/2kalnvdP7Y
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Good morning 😁 pic.twitter.com/up2cv3I1Ka
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
No quit in this team.#UtahHC | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/mEyXgAguHN
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Sergy 🆙 pic.twitter.com/ZmOQIsctKV
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Per Tourigny,
Connor Ingram will start in net this morning against the Washington Capitals.
O’Brien will return to the lineup with Maccelli coming out.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Tourigny on Kolyachonok being sent to Tucson:
“We have a lot of guys available right now. He didn’t play for a while so it’s tough for him to get ready, get in game shape when you don’t play for that long.”
Tourigny also said that Durzi and Bortuzzo are both “soon to be ready.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Grab some brunch and get ready to tune in! pic.twitter.com/mCdVyRHzus
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Sunday starters. #UtahHC | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/jYrg6nSF2R
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Good guys 😌 pic.twitter.com/SnaJcM2Bph
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
JOSH DOAN SCORES AGAIN!!!!!!
Utah up 1-0 early in DC!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Another high IQ play from Josh Doan as he recognizes the bodies in front of the net and beats the netminder from DEEP.
Doan is a special talent. Thriving in his return to Utah. https://t.co/25ezEzrvZs
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
MICHAEL CARCONE SCORES AND UTAH IS UP 2-0 IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES IN DC!!!!!
Utah came ready to play!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
TWO IN THE FIRST TWO MINUTES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DRAsyFr5DG
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Cannot give PP opportunities to the Caps. Simple as that.
Goals a plenty in DC as Utah leads 2-1. https://t.co/IGvtk22kru
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
JACK MCBAIN SCORES!!!!!
What a pass from Kesselring, but what a finish from McBain.
3-1 Utah!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Nice little saucer pass from Kesselring and McBain finished it off with a crafty move.
McBain Train is an elite nickname. https://t.co/9bzrybQxZO
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Utah currently shooting better than most NBA teams.
3 goals on 7 shots is wild. What a start.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
John Marino just saved a goal.
Ingram got pulled away from the net and Marino threw himself in front of the open net to make a big save.
Insane amount of energy in this first period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Great play here from Marino to disrupt the shot and get his body in front of it.
That puck easily could've ended up in the back of the net. https://t.co/J51cpAmcI4
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Stenlund to the box for tripping.
Capitals with another power play opportunity.
1P: 8:21 | 3-1 Utah
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2025
Utah needs to stay out of the box if they want to win this game.
Capitals are far too dangerous. https://t.co/NDoHRcsmi9
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Connor Ingram is coming off the ice after being attended to by the training staff. Took a wicked shot up high. He's headed to the locker room.
Karel Vejmelka in.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Capitals off the iron. Yeesh.
Ice has tilted in favor of Washington.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Great start offensively for the Utah HC but costly penalties have kept the Caps in the game.
First few minutes of the second period are going to be critical. Can't let Washington come out flying.
Also, no more penalties. https://t.co/JKyg5C9TFs
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Exciting first period. pic.twitter.com/LFwKv8y47i
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Nick Schmaltz off the pipe.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Capitals called for a hold.
Utah with their first PP of the afternoon.
2P: 18:31 | 3-2 Utah
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2025
DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY.
TOP CHEDDAR ON THE ONE-TIMER.
4-2 UTAH!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Same spot. Same shot. Same result.
Guenther looking like a familiar face in Capital One Arena.
No. 11 is special Utah fans.pic.twitter.com/6MkL704VQQ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Per Utah HC,
Goaltender Connor Ingram is not expected to return to today’s game (upper body).
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
End of the 2nd period in DC.
Utah 4
Washington 2SOG
Utah 20
Washington 25 https://t.co/MMi7csUrtg— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 9, 2025
4-2 after two. pic.twitter.com/jRjkTKxe7l
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
First few minutes here in the third are going to be critical.
Caps are flying with a lot of urgency to try and cut into the lead.
Utah needs to remain composed in order to flatten their early push.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
A lot of hockey left.
Utah fighting for their playoff hopes before 4 Nations break.
Have to dig deep and find a way to finish this game off. https://t.co/oF9eUncMNU
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
I really like the second line of Carcone, Hayton and Guenther.
Lots of speed, creativity, urgency, and crafty shooting. Those three have worked really well together.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
I really like the second line of Carcone, Hayton and Guenther.
Lots of speed, creativity, urgency, and crafty shooting. Those three have worked really well together.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Save of the game from Vejmelka on the doorstep.
One-timer from right in close and he robbed Dubois.
Wow. Clutch. Utah remains in front 4-3 with less than 7 to go thanks to the left pad of Veggie.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Washington is trying to get Thompson to the bench for the extra attacker.
Icing brings the puck back and he'll stay.
2:14 to go.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Caps tie the game 4-4.
Brutal D-zone faceoff lost.
1:31 left.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Death, taxes, and Utah Hockey Club going to OT.
Each team with a point. Utah desperately needs the second.
Away we go again.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Overtime. pic.twitter.com/YWvwIpyeQo
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
VEJMELKA WHAT A SAVE.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
OT ends in a tie.
Off to a shootout.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Vejmelka makes the stop on the first shot.
Utah HC up.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
SCHMALTZ SCORES
1-0 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
SHOOTOUT WIN THANKS TO SCHMALTZ AND VEGGIE! pic.twitter.com/Kt3FNrQ694
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
Vejmelka stops the second!
A goal here wins it.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Keller misses.
A stop wins it.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
VEJMELKA GETS THE STOP!!!!!
UTAH WINS!
BIGGEST W OF THE SEASON SO FAR.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 9, 2025
Big W going into the break 💪 pic.twitter.com/HyQZ1Jvm2C
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
