It is rare a team takes eight penalties and ends up winning the game 6-3.
But, that is just what the Utah Hockey Club did Sunday night against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
Special teams have had an early impact for Utah this preseason and will have game-deciding implications when the regular season rolls around.
“In the regular season, you get that many penalties and you’re not happy,” head coach André Tourigny said.
Through four preseason games, Utah has taken 24 penalties and given up five power-play goals. Spoiler alert: That’s too many. The club’s discipline must be better, especially with the avoidable stick minors — slashing, tripping, cross-checking, high-sticking.
On Sunday, Miles Wood opened scoring for Colorado on the power play with a knock-in goal from the crease at 13:12 of the first period after Utah was called for too many men on the ice. Dylan Guenther responded with a power-play tally of his own just over five minutes later. The blast from the left circle, assisted by Mikhail Sergachev, tied things 1-1
Utah is lucky its power play has found some consistency. The team has scored five power-play goals in the preseason. Tourigny has experimented with different variations of the power play throughout training camp. Sunday night, Sergachev, Guenther, Clayton Keller, Josh Doan and Barrett Hayton composed the first unit — and it looked good.
Tij Iginla, center, poses after being selected by the Utah Hockey Club during the first round of the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
The penalty kill units have cycled as well. Against Colorado, Liam O’Brien, Michael Carcone, Kailer Yamamoto and Michael Kesselring saw the bulk of ice time when the team was down a player. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was one of Utah’s best penalty killers and finished the night with 26 saves.
“In our situation, it was good to give a chance to a few guys and see how they can [penalty] kill and if they can fill that role for us,” Tourigny said.
Utah gave up another goal to the Avalanche’s man advantage to open the second period. First-round draft pick Tij Iginla — in his first preseason game with the team — took a double-minor, high-sticking penalty. Colorado’s Sam Malinski took advantage, drove to the net and scored off his backhand for the 2-1 lead at 2:17.
“I thought we played a good game. We got in a little bit of penalty trouble — and part of that was on me — but I thought throughout the highs and lows of the game we managed momentum well, got to the net. Did little things like that that helped us win in the end,” Iginla said.
Guenther potted his second goal of the game, and third of the preseason, for the 2-2 equalizer before Cameron Hebig and Josh Doan both scored to put Utah up 4-2 heading into the third period.
Keller finished off a three-point performance with a goal at 6:15 of the third period. Guenther dished the puck to Keller across the crease where he one-timed it home to make it 5-2. Colorado’s Calum Ritchie scored at 13:23, but Jack McBain sealed the 6-3 win with an empty-net goal.
“Just try to improve throughout the game. That’s what the preseason is for, trying to improve and make sure that when Oct. 8 hits, you’re at your best. I thought we did that and we have to continue to do that,” Guenther said.
While Utah ultimately came away with the victory, the amount of time spent in the box is not conducive to winning nightly. Granted, this is preseason, it’s not a full NHL roster and the games technically do not matter, but good habits don’t need to wait until Oct. 8 to start.
Last season, the Arizona Coyotes were 15th in the league for power-play percentage at 22.0. Nick Schmaltz led the team with 10 goals on the man advantage; Keller and Guenther followed with nine each. Arizona scored a total of 53 power-play goals on 241 opportunities. It was fine.
However, the team’s penalty kill was 25th in the league at 76.3 percent. Arizona gave up 63 power-play goals on 241 opportunities, and 3.34 goals against per game — which was eighth most in the NHL. Utah’s penalty kill has looked much improved, it went 5-for-7 on Sunday, but it should not have to be used as much as it is right now.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club forward Clayton Keller (9) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Los Angeles Kings, NHL pre-season hockey in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
General manager Bill Armstrong focused on strengthening his blueline and bringing in veteran experience this offseason. In hand, it has helped special teams. Sergachev and forward Kevin Stenlund — both acquired by Utah this summer — have valuable versatility on both the power play and penalty kill. Ian Cole has earned his keep in the league eating pucks and being a shutdown defenseman; a welcome addition to any PK unit. These things will make a difference — within games and the standings — for Utah.
The hockey club has three more preseason games to iron the details out before opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 8 at the Delta Center.
