Sport Preview, 1/23: Utah Hockey Membership vs. Minnesota Wild – NHL.com

Sport Preview, 1/23: Utah Hockey Membership vs. Minnesota Wild
WHEN: 6:00 p.m. MT
WHERE: Xcel Power Middle – St. Paul, Minnesota
TV: ESPN+, Hulu | RADIO: KSL Sports activities Zone 1280 AM, NHL App
The Utah Hockey Membership (20-19-7) continues a grueling stretch of video games towards high competitors with a matchup tonight towards the Minnesota Wild (28-15-4) at Xcel Power Middle. Whereas Utah is 4 factors out of the second wild card spot within the Western Convention after two straight wins, Minnesota is entrenched in second place within the Central Division with 60 factors. Tonight is the primary sport of a back-to-back and the primary of a three-game highway journey for Utah. This night additionally marks the second of three straight matchups towards the highest two groups within the Central Division (Winnipeg, Minnesota).
ONE-TIMERS
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Wild raced by means of the primary a part of the season, incomes factors in 21 of their first 25 video games. Over the past two months, Minnesota has come again right down to earth with a 7-7-0 report in December and a 5-4-0 report in January to this point. A giant purpose for the downward pattern has been the absence of Hart Trophy candidate Kirill Kaprizov since Dec. 23 as a consequence of harm. Kaprizov, who had 50 factors (23G, 27A) in 34 video games earlier than harm, modifications the dynamic of a sport when he’s within the lineup. Even with out Kaprizov within the lineup, the Wild are a pressure to be reckoned with up entrance with gifted forwards like Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Joel Eriksson Ek. In internet, Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury make up one of many stingiest goaltending tandems within the league with a mixed save share of .913.
WHO TO WATCH
UTAH: #92 LOGAN COOLEY – Cooley has objectives in 4 straight video games, tying him for the longest objective streak of Utah’s season with Kevin Stenlund. The younger heart has 42 factors (15G, 27A) in 46 video games for Utah and ranks second on the group in scoring.
MINNESOTA: #12 MATT BOLDY – Boldy has been productive not too long ago for Minnesota with 5 objectives over his final eight video games. He additionally has 4 multi-point video games during the last eight contests and is second on the Wild in scoring with 41 factors (18G, 23A) in 47 contests.
LOOK BACK
Utah tamed the highest group within the Western Convention on Monday night time at Delta Middle with a 5-2 win over the conference-leading Winnipeg Jets. The sport was scoreless till 36 minutes in, when Olli Määttä buried a slapshot from the blue line for his first objective of the season. Later within the second with simply 18 seconds remaining within the interval, Logan Cooley scored on a two-on-one to increase Utah’s lead. The road of Barrett Hayton, Josh Doan, and Matias Maccelli produced two extra tallies within the third to cement Utah’s lead; Hayton netted a artful setup from Doan off the push, and Maccelli lit the lamp after a tic-tac-toe passing play involving your complete line. Winnipeg pushed again with two objectives of their very own within the third, however Clayton Keller scored the empty-netter to clinch the win.
LAST MEETING
Utah prolonged a successful streak to 4 and a highway successful streak to seven with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Power Middle on Dec. 20. The Wild’s Mats Zuccarello led off the scoring in the midst of the primary, however solely a minute later, Dylan Guenther knocked in a rebound from a Jack McBain shot and tied the sport. Guenther scored the game-winner and his second of the sport later within the third interval on the ability play. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was stellar as soon as once more with 28 saves on 29 photographs. Utah’s penalty kill got here up huge with a five-for-five effort towards the Wild.
CLAYTON KELLER
With a objective and an help on Monday towards Winnipeg, Clayton Keller now has a number of factors in every of his final two video games and three of his final 4. Throughout his present four-game level streak, the Utah captain has amassed 9 factors (2G, 7A), together with a four-point night time on Jan. 18 towards St. Louis. The 9 factors is tied for essentially the most in a four-game span that Keller has tabulated this season. The 26-year-old is off to one of the best statistical begin of his profession, and he at the moment leads Utah with 50 factors (16G, 34A). He reached the 40-point plateau in simply 39 video games this season- 5 video games sooner than his earlier quickest 40 factors which got here final season with the Arizona Coyotes in 44 contests. Keller is on tempo for 90 factors this season, which might be a brand new profession excessive.
BARRETT HAYTON
Barrett Hayton registered his first three-point night time of the season on Monday towards Winnipeg with a objective and two assists. Monday additionally marked his first three-point night time because the 2022-23 marketing campaign, and the fifth of his profession. Hayton has 23 factors (9G, 14A) in 46 video games this season, and he’s tied for second on the group with a +7 ranking. The centerman additionally tabbed two assists on Jan. 16 towards the New York Rangers and now has 5 factors (1G, 4A) over his final three contests.
LOOK AHEAD
Utah continues the highway journey tomorrow with a rematch towards the Winnipeg Jets. Tomorrow’s sport at Canada Life Centre would be the third assembly of the season between the groups after Winnipeg defeated Utah 3-0 on Nov. 5, and Utah returned the favor 5-2 on Jan. 20. Tomorrow’s puck drop is scheduled for six p.m. MT.
WPG at UTA | Recap

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