SALT LAKE CITY – Following several demoralizing losses at home, the Utah Hockey Club responded with a complete effort against the St. Louis to claim an essential 4-2 win on home ice. After a momentum altering fight involving Liam O’Brien in the first period, Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller were unstoppable offensively as they led Utah to victory.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s crucial win over the Blues.
Tuna was feeling a little spicier than usual on Saturday night as he decided to drop the gloves with St. Louis defenseman Tyler Tucker early in the first period.
Utah has scored 3 unanswered goals since O’Brien dropped the gloves.pic.twitter.com/HS9Wvyu6iy
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Following a decent scrap with both players landing blows, O’Brien hyped up the crowd with blood streaming down his face like a Viking warrior who had just emerged from an epic battle.
O’Brien just dropped the gloves with Tyler Tucker.
Both guys landed some big blows before the refs shut it down. O’Brien’s forehead started bleeding.
He headed back to locker room to have that treated.
5 minutes for both guys.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
This moment was a turning point in the game.
“He gives us so much energy,” Logan Cooley said. “He’s a great locker room guy, great on the bench. Just the way he forechecks, pushes the pace.”
“You need a guy like him.”
Throughout the remainder of the contest, Utah dominated the blues with an outpouring of relentless offense that included four goals on 33 shots.
He knows what he brings, and he totally embraces it. https://t.co/deUfej6Z3v
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
At times, a player dropping the gloves can have as much of an impact on momentum as scoring a goal.
Based on the way this team has been playing as of late and after surrendering such an early goal, somebody needed to step up in a big way.
Without hesitation, O’Brien fearlessly answered the call to get the crowd, and his team fired up.
Aside from Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller lighting up the ice, Utah played arguably their most complete game in over a month.
Despite allowing the Blues to score first and later cut the lead to one in the second period, nearly every player contributed to help Utah secure a much-needed win.
Connor Ingram made key saves in net, Kesselring tied the game early, the PK was perfect, and John Marino had his best game in a Utah sweater as he dove in front of an open net to stop a would-be goal.
Here’s the save I was talking about earlier.
Big time. Easily could’ve ended up in the back of the net. https://t.co/2lhlHaXj1i
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Elite defense.
This is what it takes to win hockey games.
Just a relentless effort to make big plays and step up for your teammates. https://t.co/WamFsi4CtR
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
This is the kind of response that Utah needed to have in order to get things back on track.
“We found a way. We had the lead after two, we’re at home. We played against a team we’re chasing for the playoffs, and we won,” Tourigny said.
“That’s big for us, that’s good. With the stretch we were in, we needed it.”
While wins have been sparse and they’ve greatly lacked consistency, a win wasn’t going to happen without 110 percent from every skater.
Clayton Keller on the win:
“Just mindset. We were positive, better body language from everyone. Coaches all the way down.”
“Ingy made some unbelievable saves. O’Brien has a great fight there, pumps us up.” pic.twitter.com/KJPvnhUmXq
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Against the Blues, everybody responded with an unwillingness to lose and delivered a big win on home ice.
While O’Brien responded with spice, Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller scorched the nets all night against the Blues.
Between the two, Cooley and Keller combined for 7 total points in just 60 minutes of hockey. That’s more than some players and even lines will produce in several weeks.
Utah is on a mission tonight.
Suffocating pressure from the first line, great concentration by Cooley to maintain the puck despite being tripped, and a heck of a turnaround shot from the Captain.
Keller already has 3 points in less than 4 minutes on ice. Cooley has 2. https://t.co/Wh63yvy1h2
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Keller and Cooley have 7 points combined in 30 minutes of hockey…
That is absurd.
What a pass. What a shot. https://t.co/TIcbonp31R
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Every goal that was scored by Utah included some sort of brilliance from either No. 9 or No. 92.
Whether it was elite concentration from Cooley to keep the puck after being tripped, a quick turnaround shot from Keller, or the two connecting for a top-shelf finish from Cooley, they led the charge.
“It started last year. They played together a little bit. I think Cools (Logan Cooley) and Kells (Clayton Keller) like each other, but they needed to create that chemistry and understand that,” Tourigny said.
“Knowing what to expect when the other guy has the puck. I think that’s growing, and they played well together.”
For Keller, these are the moments that establish his identity as a captain. With the team desperately needing a win, he took full responsibility to make that happen and wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Logan Cooley on Clayton Keller:
“He’s the main driver for our team. He’s an unbelievable player. It’s awesome to see how hard he works too & what he’s willing to do to be the best.”
“He was a big part of the win tonight.” pic.twitter.com/HxTcn4CdfT
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
“He’s the main driver for our team. He’s an unbelievable player. It’s awesome to see how hard he works too & what he’s willing to do to be the best,” Cooley said.
“He was a big part of the win tonight.”
As for Cooley, his game has experienced a remarkable evolution as he’s demonstrated superstar potential on a nightly basis.
Clayton Keller on Logan Cooley:
“He’s a gamer for sure.”
“Since day one you could see all the talent. He’s quite a little bit but he works tremendously hard & he really cares.” pic.twitter.com/We0WVH9117
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 19, 2025
“He’s a gamer for sure,” Keller said.
“Since day one you could see all the talent. He’s quite a little bit but he works tremendously hard, and he really cares.”
When a team is starved for points and have no choice but to win, it requires elite performances from their star players.
Tonight, Cooley and Keller took care of business.
The Utah Hockey Club will host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
