Keller Leads Utah to Victory in five hundredth NHL Recreation – NHL.com

Utah picked up a 7-3 win over the Predators
NASHVILLE – Within the penultimate recreation of the 2024-25 season, Utah Hockey Membership picked up a 7-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Utah had 9 gamers on the scoresheet and in his 500^th NHL recreation, Captain Clayton Keller had two targets and a pair of assists. Along with Keller, Michael Kesselring, Nick Bjugstad, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, and Kevin Stenlund scored within the win. Ryan O’Reilly (PPG), Luke Evangelista, and Michael Bunting had Nashville’s targets.
Matt Villalta, in his Utah debut, stopped 27 of the 30 photographs he confronted. It was Villalta’s first profession win. The win was Utah’s first victory towards the Predators this season and the crew has received 4 of their final 5 video games.
Utah’s penalty kill went to work within the first 5 minutes of the sport. After Kevin Stenlund went to the field for a slashing penalty, Barrett Hayton was assessed a tripping penalty simply 21 seconds later. Utah’s penalty killers and goaltender Matt Villalta got here up large when the crew was down 5-on-3. Utah killed off the preliminary penalty; nonetheless, with one second left on the second penalty, Ryan O’Reilly’s shot beat Utah’s netminder and gave Nashville a 1-0 lead.
Michael Kesselring tied the sport 1-1 with seven and a half minutes to play within the first interval. By skating to the cross from his d-partner Ian Cole, as an alternative of ready, Kesselring slipped his protection, skated in, and scored his seventh of the season. Cole and Alexander Kerfoot picked up assists on the purpose. Utah took a 2-1 lead late within the first interval when Nick Bjugstad’s shot via visitors discovered the again of the online. The purpose was Bjugstad’s third purpose in his final 5 video games. Kerfoot picked up his second helper of the night time whereas Kevin Stenlund additionally was credited with an help on the purpose.
Seconds after the go-ahead purpose, Logan Cooley was elbowed by Michael McCarron and Utah went on their first energy play of the sport. Cooley went down the tunnel to the locker room; nonetheless, he returned for the second interval. Losing no time, Cooley scored three minutes into the center body to extend Utah’s result in 3-1. The purpose was challenged for goaltender interference, however the rating remained, and Utah went on the facility play for Nashville’s failed problem.
50 seconds into the facility play, Brady Skjei tripped Clayton Keller. Because of this, Utah had a 5-on-3 benefit for 1:10. 20 seconds later, Nick Schmaltz scored his 20^th of the season and elevated Utah’s result in 4-1. Proper as time expired, Dylan Guenther was hooked driving to the online, and Utah went proper again on the facility play. Utah didn’t rating on their fourth energy play of the sport.
Nashville pushed again within the second half of the second interval with a pair of targets simply 3:19 aside. Luke Evangelista capitalized on a rebound to make it 4-2 Utah simply previous the midway level of the interval. Minutes later, after Villalta stopped a shot from the blue line, Bunting tapped within the rebound and lower Utah’s result in 4-3. After an ice drawback couldn’t be solved rapidly, the officers began the second intermission early. Following the 18 minute break, the groups performed the ultimate 3:44 of the center body, had their goaltenders swap sides, and began the third interval instantly.
12 minutes into the third interval, Keller’s 28^th purpose of the season elevated Utah’s result in 5-3. After his cross try was damaged up by two Nashville gamers, Keller regained possession down low, shot, and scored. Keller’s empty web purpose within the last two minutes of the sport elevated the result in 6-3. Lower than a minute later, Kevin Stenlund’s purpose was the ultimate of the night time.
Utah has picked up a degree of their final 5 contests, bettering to 38-30-13 (89 factors) with one recreation left within the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Different Notes from Tonight’s Recreation:
In terms of discovering targets in tight video games, Utah’s defensemen have stepped up. With Kesselring’s first interval purpose towards Nashville, the crew’s blueliners have contributed targets in three of Utah’s final 4 video games. Mikhail Sergachev (vs. SEA, 4/8) and Sean Durzi (at DAL, 4/12) additionally scored throughout this stretch.
A few gamers set new career-highs throughout tonight’s recreation. Captain Clayton Keller’s two assists towards Nashville introduced him as much as 87 factors this season. He additionally reached the 60-assist mark for the primary time in his profession (per Utah PR). Schmaltz hit the 20-goal mark along with his energy play tally within the second interval. It’s the fourth-straight season wherein Schmaltz has lit the lamp 20 or extra occasions. Schmaltz’s purpose helped the ahead attain a brand new career-high with 62 factors (20G, 43A).
Utah’s energy play continues to ship in current video games. The crew has 11 energy play targets in Utah’s final six video games (4/3-4/14, 11-for-22) (per Utah PR). Schmaltz’s energy play purpose within the second interval was his ninth this season. He’s one energy play purpose again from his career-high of 10 energy play targets that he set final season.
What’s Subsequent?
Utah’s last recreation of the 2024-25 season is Tuesday night time in St. Louis towards the Blues. You possibly can watch on SEG+, UtahHC+, or Utah 16. You possibly can hear on KSL Sports activities Zone 97.5 FM or the NHL App.

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