RALEIGH, N.C. – The Utah Hockey Club couldn’t keep the magic from their previous games alive as they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in a blowout loss on Saturday.
After the first period ended in a 1-1 tie, things started to go downhill in the second. The Hurricanes outscored the Hockey Club 4-1 in the period and added two more open net goals in the third for good measure.
Considering both teams’ recent stretch of games and the fact that Utah made easy work of them earlier in the season with a 4-1 win at Delta Center, the result at Lenovo Center was somewhat surprising.
The Utah Hockey Club will have a chance at redemption with a quick turnaround against the Washington Capitals tomorrow.
📍On site in Raleigh. pic.twitter.com/iI6vjBcuzS
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Per Tourigny,
Karel Vejmelka will start in net this morning for Utah.
Liam O’Brien is also coming out and Matias Maccelli will replace him in the lineup.
O’Brien will return to the lineup tomorrow against Washington and they’ll see who is coming out.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
⚽️Pregame sewer⚽️ pic.twitter.com/eYTLGnqqOr
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Hockey 🔜 pic.twitter.com/3d9UlPMerT
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
📸 Laces and Faces pic.twitter.com/54uRU3BzYG
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Saturday starters. #UtahHC | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/UcPexVKPiX
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Barrett Hayton goes right at the net and attacks in close.
He’s stopped but IMO Hayton is at his best when he’s aggressively attacking & crashing the net.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Great start for Utah HC through the first 7 minutes in Carolina.
So far, they’ve been assertive, aggressive, played with speed, and been relentless on the forecheck.
Good energy right out of the gate.
1P: 12:59 | 0-0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Carolina strikes first.
1P: 9:51 | 1-0 Carolina
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
Carolina responded to Utah’s energetic start with a lot of speed and caught Utah pinching too high which created a 2 on 1 situation the other way.
Defenseman bit on the shooter too hard which left the trailing skater wide open, and he buried it. https://t.co/7XtmPw3su3
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Burns called for a trip and he’ll make his way to the penalty box.
Utah with their first PP opportunity of the afternoon.
1P: 4:03 | 1-0 Carolina
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
JOSH DOAN HAS TIED THE GAME IN CAROLINA.
WHAT A SHOT.
1-1!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Doan is coming along nicely since returning to Utah. He’s just so smart and has an underrated release. Big impact type player.
1-1 after one in Carolina. Nice response from Utah to tie it up.pic.twitter.com/aO8qgqVC04
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Great save from Vejmelka on two great chances for Hall in close.
Ian Cole is then called for a hook as he caught Hall on the rebound chance.
Hurricanes to the PP.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
End of the 1st period in Carolina.
Utah 1
Carolina 1SOG
Utah 8
Carolina 16pic.twitter.com/UiRDPU2o8k— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
All tied up. pic.twitter.com/mMOg6dPRUI
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Nick Bjugstad to the box for interference.
Carolina back to the PP.
2P: 14:09 | 1-1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
Hurricanes cash in.
Can’t give this team more space to work. They work too quickly.
However, Utah has taken a TO in order to look at the goal in case they want to challenge it. https://t.co/aybk9Wkiew
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Utah will not challenge.
Carolina goal stands.
2-1 Hurricanes.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Carolina scores again.
3-1 Hurricanes.
2P: 11:24
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
Couple mistakes from Utah here and Vejmelka was ultimately punished for coming out and trying to play a puck without any support.
Easy goal for the Hurricanes and Utah is suddenly down 2. https://t.co/4iCs8o3o4q
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
CLAYTON KELLER SCORES ON THE BREAKAWAY.
Great job to create the turnover and then a nasty fake to open up the five hole and he puts it away.
Great response.
3-2 with 9:41 remaining in the 2nd period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Oh that’s pretty.
Dirty little move to open up the five hole and he scores.
Nothing like a Keller celly, eh? https://t.co/jqNefc4ho9
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Burns going after Kerfoot.
Ridiculous. Completely fair hit from Kerfoot.
Burns to the box for roughing.
Wise that Kerfoot didn’t bite. That would not have ended well and instead Utah gets a man advantage.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Another shorty against Utah.
Unacceptable goal. Not enough awareness defensively and a man breaks free right in front to punish Utah.
4-2 Hurricanes.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
It’s been all Hurricanes during the second period.
5-2 Carolina.
Rough night for Utah’s blue line and Vejmelka.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Hurricanes lead 5-2 after outscoring Utah 4-1 in the second period.
SOG
Utah 18
Carolina 28pic.twitter.com/X5fZFIw5qy— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 8, 2025
Important third period. pic.twitter.com/5VU5jurhJP
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Stenlund off the crossbar.
Good look but the pipe comes to the rescue for Carolina.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
A lot of fire and visible frustration from Vejmelka today.
These two were chirping on their way to the locker rooms after the second as well. https://t.co/txFH6Z5S0y
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Utah PP opportunity after Schmaltz is tripped.
Must-score opportunity with 11:42 left in the third period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Carolina back to full strength. https://t.co/hAbIxDnTeb
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Kochetkov has been very good for Carolina this afternoon.
Sliding stick save after returning to his net a bit late from playing the puck. Guenther nearly punished him for it, but he kept it out.
Utah’s had opportunities; he’s just been better today.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
5 on 3 for Utah for 1:17 with 4:55 left in the third.
Have to convert down by 3.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
CLAYTON KELLER SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY.
Utah still trails 5-3.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Keller gets his second of the day! pic.twitter.com/rVgFyt1ZUZ
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
Too little too late for Utah as the Hurricanes cash in on an empty net goal after Vejmelka went to the bench for the extra attacker.
6-3 Carolina.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Carolina again.
7-3 Hurricanes.
Brutal. Time to move onto Washington.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 8, 2025
Another game tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/UBOtnHtlm5
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 8, 2025
