Clayton Keller #9 of the Utah Hockey Club celebrates a goal during the third period of a game against the Minnesota Wild at Delta Center on December 10, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – In another must-win situation for the Utah Hockey Club, Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury experienced a goal-fest as Clayton Keller recorded a new career-high in points and Sean Durzi registered his first goal with the team. Following a dominant 6-1 victory, Utah closed the gap in the standings even more as they desperately continue to push for the playoffs.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s massive win over Minnesota.
Through the first three months of the NHL season, forward Barrett Hayton recorded seven goals and eight assists for the Utah Hockey Club.
Over the last two months, Hayton has impressively managed nine goals and nine assists, in 13 fewer games.
How’s he doing it?
By simply being more assertive, more aggressive and attacking the net using his specific skillset to pester opposing netminders.
Great goal from Hayton on the PP here.
Goes right at the net and wastes no time finding the back. Special teams desperately needed that one.
Hayton continues to make more of an impact for this team. https://t.co/Vz2X2sJ1T3
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 28, 2025
Against the Wild, Hayton demonstrated all of his offensive abilities as he pressured Fleury in front of the net, went right at him to open the scoring and even tallied an assist to Guenther on the next power play to increase Utah’s lead.
“Hayton brings something different to that unit,” Head coach Andre Tourigny said. “He’s solid on faceoffs, solid on loose puck recovery, solid on net presence. He can make plays as well. He has the skills.”
Phenomenal first period from Utah HC as they lead 2-0.
In addition to 2 PP goals, they also killed 2 penalties and dominated most of the initial frame.
That Guenther goal is a thing of beauty. Just like they drew it up and No. 11 is too fast for Flower. https://t.co/y5SOGWNDke
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 28, 2025
In my last hat-trick, I suggested that Utah needed to replace Hayton with Logan Cooley on the top power play unit after they went 0-5 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
With two points on the power play against the Wild and closing in on a career-high (19) with 16 goals this season, I happily stand corrected as Hayton continues to improve and help Utah consistently win games.
After missing 52 games with a shoulder injury, defenseman Sean Durzi returned to the lineup like he never left and even scored his first goal of the season against the Minnesota Wild to reclaim momentum late in the second.
“Giving one up there wasn’t ideal that close to the period ending, and thought it was important that we had a good shift after that,” Sean Durzi said.
“We had a great change by the (defensive) pair ahead of us, and then went out there against a tired group, and we got one for momentum, carried it over into intermission, and the game goes from there.”
Just moments after the Wild cut Utah’s lead in half with Durzi as the last line of defense, No. 50 took it upon himself to get it back and absolutely sniped Marc-Andre Fleury from deep to regain a two-goal lead.
“To see them get some momentum from that goal, wasn’t too happy about it, broken play. Obviously unfortunate. But then to get one back is huge. We carried it in here. The energy was good in intermission. We knew we needed our best 20, and I thought we got that. So, it was huge,” Durzi said.
I am certain that Durzi was unhappy that he was beaten on Minnesota’s goal just a few minutes before.
So, what does he do? Gets it back for his first in a Utah sweater.
What a shot from distance. Also, love Maatta battling in front of the net here. https://t.co/b2BOUvDeaK
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 28, 2025
This was a critical moment in the hockey game for Utah.
Rather than allowing Minnesota to steal all the momentum and crawl back into the game, Durzi slammed the door and tilted the ice back in Utah’s favor as they completely dominated the rest of the contest.
That’s simply the level of competitiveness that Durzi brings.
Every single shift he wants to make a difference and that’s the exact type of leadership that Utah needs.
Someone who is unwilling to settle for mediocrity and more than willing to drag the team through critical key moments.
“He’s an awesome teammate and everyone in this room loves him. It’s so great to have him back…he’s great on the bench during the games. He’s a good leader so it’s huge to get him back and he’s been awesome for us.”
Whether or not Clayton Keller was trying to send Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin a message after Guerin left Keller off of Team USA’s Four Nations roster, No. 9 was simply superb on Thursday night at Delta Center.
With five total points (1G, 4A) against the Wild, Keller set a new career-high for points in a game and showed everyone why he wears the “C” on his chest.
Kells made that backhander look effortless 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KXuVEaM2jq
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 28, 2025
“I think just trying to do the same thing every single night. Our line has done a good job lately, I think getting [Logan Cooley] back, too. Takes a little bit to get the chemistry each game. Since he’s been back, we’ve been just getting a little bit better,” Clayton Keller said.
“My linemates, everyone that were out there, contributed to all the goals that we scored. Enjoy for a little bit, turn the page, and be ready for the next one. Every point here moving forward is huge.”
In addition to crediting his teammates for his own success, Keller is doing exactly what a captain is supposed to do in NHL.
Leading by example, giving everything he has to push the team to new heights and putting points on the board at a point in the season when Utah needs them the most.
So, while there’s still a lot of hockey left to be played, there’s no doubting that Keller is doing everything in his power to help this team make the playoffs.
“It’s everything [playing meaningful hockey]. It’s what you want to do in this league. It sucks when you’re out of it. There’s no worse feeling,” Keller said.
“We’re just going to keep fighting, doing everything we can…to get in the playoffs.”
This is why he wears the “C”
Keller on playing meaningful hockey:
“It’s everything. It’s what you want to do in this league. It sucks when you’re out of it. There’s no worse feeling.”
“We’re just going to keep fighting, doing everything we can…to get in the playoffs.” pic.twitter.com/dkOpdP3Wkn
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 28, 2025
For Keller, it just means more and that’s why he wears the “C” for the Utah Hockey Club.
The Utah Hockey Club will host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night at Delta Center. 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.
