Karel Vejmelka #70 of the Utah Hockey Club looks on during a break in the third period against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 02, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Despite an impressive effort in the first and second periods, the Utah Hockey Club experienced several costly defensive breakdowns that resulted in a deflating loss to the Senators. Without their blue line anchor Mikhail Sergachev for the fifth-straight game as well as other injuries to key players, Utah struggled to compete late against Ottawa.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s road loss to the Senators.
While the Utah Hockey Club was the victim of a bad bounce during their matchup with the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night, the hockey Gods blessed them with a wild deflection against Ottawa to even the game early in the second.
Just your average David Gustafsson bounce 😃 pic.twitter.com/XsZ3pSRu4d
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 25, 2025
Shortly after surrendering a poor shorthanded goal to the Senators, Clayton Keller was credited with one of the most unlikely goals of his career to get Utah back in the game.
Sometimes, the puck does bounce your way.
Hockey Gods showing Utah some love as this game is tied. https://t.co/7tTMSaIAFr
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 26, 2025
With the puck on his stick and Logan Cooley streaking to the net front, Keller attempted to make a pass to his linemate for a Grade A scoring opportunity.
Instead, the puck deflected off the stick of an Ottawa defenseman and into the back of the net.
CLAYTON KELLER TIES THE GAME AT 1!
Puck bounces off a Senators stick in front and ends up in the back of the net.
Big break for UHC.
1-1
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 26, 2025
While puck luck can certainly punish teams like it did in Utah’s 5-2 loss to the Jets, it can also reward them in certain moments.
Oftentimes, that type of the luck is the result of doing the right things.
Against the Senators, Utah won the puck in a key area, created traffic, crashed the net, and attempted to make a dangerous play.
The result? A big goal that kept Utah in the game early.
In tight hockey games where the momentum constantly shifts back-and-forth, the difference generally boils down to key mistakes.
Against the Senators, the Utah Hockey Club made three pivotal defensive mistakes that resulted in a deflating loss on the road.
“I think we played a patient game. Obviously, they defended well,” Olli Maatta said.
“But at the same time when you have tight games like that, we gave them two easy ones and you just can’t win games when you do that.”
As previously mentioned, Ottawa opened the scoring shorthanded on a two-man rush that left Karel Vejmelka defenseless.
Shorthanded? No problem for the Riddler 🤷♂️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/QxMuNuZGMM
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 26, 2025
After a poor pass attempt by Nick Schmaltz to Clayton Keller, Ottawa regained possession, sent the puck up ice and scored as Utah overcommitted despite a man-advantage.
The feed or the finish? We can’t decide which one made us jump out of our seats more 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/hxKncgMXpi
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 27, 2025
As for the second and third goals, Utah simply got caught watching the puck and failed to defend a streaking Senator on the back door.
The feed or the finish? We can’t decide which one made us jump out of our seats more 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/hxKncgMXpi
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 27, 2025
You just know that one felt good!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/s1eQk9Lht9
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 27, 2025
As Maatta pointed out, when you surrender multiple quality chances to the opposition, you’re not going to win hockey games.
While the Utah Hockey Club has managed quite well as of late despite missing several key players, their absence felt more significant against Ottawa.
Utah really felt their injuries tonight. Perhaps more than any other recent game.
Despite 34 shots on goal, they just didn’t generate enough overly dangerous chances.
Defensively, all 3 Ottawa goals were the result of breakdowns.
Guenther, Sergachev, & Durzi greatly missed.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 27, 2025
Every team in the NHL has to navigate the struggles of injuries throughout an 82-game season, but the absence of Mikhail Sergachev and Dylan Guenther felt a little heavier on Sunday afternoon.
Despite outshooting the Senators 35-27, Utah struggled to create overly dangerous opportunities, and the offense lacked general flow.
“We played in front of them instead of putting the puck behind and go to work. Even the way we tried to change the point of attack in the offensive zone, we were predictable for them, and they cut too many plays,” Coach Tourigny said.
“We didn’t keep our composure in that way.”
Additionally, Utah had arguably one of their worst periods defensively in the third as they surrendered two easy goals.
Not that Guenther, Sergachev or even Sean Durzi would’ve single handedly changed the outcome, nor will they all collectively return at once, but Utah just looked a bit overwhelmed in areas that those players thrive in.
To be without your most talented sharpshooter and top two defensemen is a huge disadvantage.
While Utah has weathered that storm admirably, the game in Ottawa was a demonstration of how much Utah has missed those players as of late.
The Utah Hockey Club will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. The game can be viewed on TNT. 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.
