Keller Leads Utah to Victory in 600th 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 600^th NHL recreation, Captain Clayton Keller had two targets and a pair of assists.
“I at all times discuss (Keller’s) compete stage and his need to enhance,” head coach André Tourigny mentioned about Keller. “As a lot as he’s blissful, he at all times needs extra. He is aware of how laborious it’s to get to that time so credit score to him. It’s a fantastic season, his first as Captain. Folks had been questioning how he would put on the C, you bought your reply.”
“600 and time flies,” Keller mirrored post-game. “I mentioned the opposite day, I nonetheless really feel younger, I really feel like I simply obtained out of faculty. I nonetheless have that starvation, pleasure to return to the rink day by day, get higher being round my teammates, simply tremendous grateful. So many individuals sacrificed to assist me get to the place I’m immediately, so I simply wish to say due to them and likewise my teammates as properly.”
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 NHL win.
“It was simply unbelievable,” Villalta smiled. “It was a dream come true. One thing you dream of as you’re a child, getting your first recreation after which finally successful and hopefully it’s the primary of many. Nevertheless it’s a particular group inside that locker room and everybody’s an A-1 particular person, and It’s a pleasure to be part of it. It was superior to be on the market and grinding with them and in the end getting the win, so it was unreal.”
“Matt was superior in web for us,” Keller mentioned on Villalta “Nice teammate, nice man, so it’s nice to see him get that win. Made some huge saves, stored us within the recreation. It was good to cap it off with a W.”
The win was Utah’s first victory towards the Predators this season and the staff has received 4 of their final 5 video games.
“Actually blissful about Matt,” Tourigny shared postgame. It was a giant win, he began robust, particularly on our 5-on-3. Made a number of key saves. I don’t suppose we performed our greatest recreation, however I like the way in which we performed within the third. I believe we managed the sport higher; we obtained again on our forecheck and obtained our likelihood. We buried a number of to loosen up the sport just a little bit.”
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 huge when the staff was down 5-on-3. Utah killed off the preliminary penalty; nevertheless, 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 move 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 aim. Utah took a 2-1 lead late within the first interval when Nick Bjugstad’s shot by means of site visitors discovered the again of the web. The aim was Bjugstad’s third aim 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 aim.
Seconds after the go-ahead aim, 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; nevertheless, 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 aim was challenged for goaltender interference, however the rating remained, and Utah went on the ability play for Nashville’s failed problem.
50 seconds into the ability 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 web, and Utah went proper again on the ability 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. An ice drawback delayed the sport so 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 change sides, and began the third interval instantly.
“I believe it really helped us,” Tourigny defined. “Simply to get our bearings collectively … we performed higher after. I believe it’s only a bizarre scenario.”
12 minutes into the third interval, Keller’s 28^th aim of the season elevated Utah’s result in 5-3. After his move try was damaged up by two Nashville gamers, Keller regained possession down low, shot, and scored. Keller’s empty web aim within the remaining two minutes of the sport elevated the result in 6-3. Lower than a minute later, Kevin Stenlund’s aim was the ultimate of the night time.
Utah has picked up some extent of their final 5 contests, enhancing to 38-30-13 (89 factors) with one recreation left within the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
UTA at NSH | Recap
Different Notes from Tonight’s Recreation:
With regards to discovering targets in tight video games, Utah’s defensemen have stepped up. With Kesselring’s first interval aim towards Nashville, the staff’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.
“I believe your (defensemen) want to have the ability to get pucks by means of, however you want site visitors as properly,” Tourigny shared. “It is advisable have guys on the web, so I believe it’s an equation. It’s to be related and simply make sure that we’re taking part in collectively.”
A few gamers set new career-highs throughout tonight’s recreation. Captain Clayton Keller’s 4 factors towards Nashville introduced him as much as 89 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 together with his energy play tally within the second interval. It’s the fourth-straight season through which Schmaltz has lit the lamp 20 or extra occasions. Schmaltz’s aim helped the ahead attain a brand new career-high with 62 factors (20G, 43A).
Utah’s energy play continues to ship in latest video games. The staff 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 aim within the second interval was his ninth this season. He’s one energy play aim again from his career-high of 10 energy play targets that he set final season.
Villalta has deliberate for a particular particular person to carry on to his first win puck: his grandmother.
“She retains all my shutout pucks,” Villalta mentioned. “Tonight wasn’t a shutout but it surely’s a giant milestone within the profession and she will hold that up on the wall for now.”
What’s Subsequent?
Utah’s remaining recreation of the 2024-25 season is Tuesday night time in St. Louis towards the Blues. You’ll be able to watch on SEG+, UtahHC+, or Utah 16. You’ll be able to hear on KSL Sports activities Zone 97.5 FM or the NHL App.

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