WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Utah Hockey Club is in the Nation’s Capital taking on Washington, kicking off Super Bowl Sunday with some morning hockey.
The Utah Hockey Club is playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, trying to bounce back from a 7-3 thrashing from the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday.
Any points are very important for Utah at this point in the season as they fight to stay in the Western Conference Wild Card race, meaning a win against the Capitals in the last game before the Four Nations break could prove critical.
With a back-to-back, there is always the worry of fatigue, but the Utah Hockey Club dashed those concerns with two goals on their first two shots, less than two minutes into the game.
On the opener, the first minute of play had barely elapsed when Utah regained control of the puck. Josh Doan carried the puck into the offensive zone near the far wall but slowly glided into the middle of the ice after crossing the blue line. As Doan surveyed, Lawson Crouse darted toward the net, blocking Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson’s view of the puck and allowing Josh Doan to shoot and score.
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
Then, 32 seconds later, the Utah Hockey Club extended their lead, leaving the Capitals fans at Capital One Arena in shock.
Barrett Hayton broke into the offensive zone for Utah, leaving the puck at the blue line before screening a Washington defender. Nick DeSimone took the puck and found Dylan Guenther who was skating uncontested down the slot. Guenther froze the goalie before sending a backdoor pass to Michael Carcone who tipped the puck into the back of the net, giving Utah an early two-goal advantage.
TWO IN THE FIRST TWO MINUTES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DRAsyFr5DG
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) February 9, 2025
There were goals a plenty to start the game as the Washinton Capitals would get one back as Tom Wilson netted a Power Play goal just two minutes later.
Despite the goal from Washington, Utah didn’t seem to miss a step, getting their third goal of the first period thanks to Jack McBain.
McBain led a break for Utah, streaking down the middle of the ice with Lawson Crouse and Michael Kesselring on either side of him. With only two Capitals defenders to try and stop the charge, McBain sent the puck to his right to Kesselring who immediately passed it back to McBain in front of the net who went backhand to forehand, scoring Utah’s third goal of the game not even ten minutes into the first period.
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
The Washington Capitals would go back on the Power Play and score their second of the night off the stick of Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Utah leads Washington 3-2 at the conclusion of a wild first period.
With the loss to Carolina on Saturday, Utah remains fourth in the wild card race with 55 points.
However, the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues all play later today which will give St. Louis a chance to catch up, and the other two to create a little more separation.
While Utah will certainly have their hands full against the Eastern Conference’s best in the Washington Capitals, the team has to quickly regroup and refocus.
“Couple mistakes that cost us…We were in that game & we kind of just did it to ourselves a little bit giving up a shorty and simple mistakes,” Keller said.
“It sucks to lose that one but it’s a huge game tomorrow for us…we all know it’s a huge game for us.”
Those two potential points are as precious as ever as the NHL approaches a two-week break for the Four Nations tournament.
With Sean Durzi nearing a return and hopes of getting Logan Cooley back in the not-so-distant future, remaining within striking distance going into the break will be critical for Utah.
As of right now, Utah’s game against the Capitals on Sunday will be the most important of the season.
