Utah Hockey Club’s Progress
It looks like the old Yotes are getting well-acquainted with the higher altitude and cooler temperatures in the greater Salt Lake City, UT, area. The Utah Hockey Club is now 25 games into the season with a nearly even record, sitting at 10-11-4 in sixth place in the Central Division, just coming off a loss to the Dallas Stars. Even though this team has had plenty of time playing together, relocating to an entirely different environment comes with growing pains in the early stages. Utah has a talented young roster with a boatload of potential to become a consistently strong hockey team—once management figures out all the pieces to the puzzle.
The first quarter of the season has been a rollercoaster ride. Utah forward Michael Carcone made a statement to the press following their most recent loss to the Dallas Stars: “It feels like we take a step forward and two steps back… I think we played a great game. We just can’t get the results.” Carcone is spot on, considering Utah had plenty of scoring opportunities, outshooting the Stars 35-21, yet still falling short with a 2-1 loss. While you can’t overlook the incredible performance by Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith—who allowed just one goal on 35 shots—Utah must find a way to capitalize on scoring chances that looked like sure goals.
The night before their loss to Dallas, Utah absolutely dominated the Vegas Golden Knights, one of the most powerhouse teams in the NHL. Utah shut them out 6-0, with five different players lighting the lamp that night. Nick Schmaltz had no trouble finding the back of the net, scoring two goals, while Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, and Alexander Kerfoot each recorded a goal and an assist. Schmaltz is finally heating up after a slow start to the season, but to improve their record, Utah must learn to finish games as strong as they start. Their veterans also need to step up and prevent opposing teams from converting easy scoring opportunities.
Once Utah finds its groove, they will be a serious problem for every team in their division.
– Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for The National Sports Report