Mikhail Sergachev likes to score. It is even more fun when his family is in the building.
The Utah Hockey Club defenseman logged three points — one goal, two assists — in the team’s 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames Wednesday night at the Delta Center. He now has five points in the last three games.
Sergachev’s 18-month-old son, Theodore, watched his dad from the stands alongside the blueliner’s wife and parents as Utah snapped a four-game losing streak.
“He saw me score tonight…He has come to every game here,” Sergachev said. “He almost says it now in Russian, ‘hockey.’ He brings his stick and tries to play. It’s cool.”
Sergachev’s productive performance — which included a team-leading 22:46 of ice time — was part of Utah’s full-roster response after dropping Monday’s game against the San Jose Sharks in dramatic fashion.
While the Hockey Club trailed 13-8 in shots on goal at the end of the first period, the team was producing quality chances, sustaining offensive-zone time and was pesty on the forecheck. Utah came out with much-needed bite and a higher battle level.
“We had focus, urgency, we were exactly where we should be mentally,” said head coach André Tourigny. “We were not frustrated or emotional, we were determined.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bear celebrates a Utah Hockey Club win of 6-1 over the Calgary Flames during an NHL hockey game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Sergachev’s first assist of the night came on Alex Kerfoot’s first goal of the season at 4:41 of the opening frame. The forward picked up a pass in the high slot and snapped it past Flames’ goaltender Dustin Wolf at 4:41, capitalizing on a spirited start from the Hockey Club and earning a 1-0 lead.
Utah padded its advantage with 1.6 seconds remaining in the first period. Ian Cole carried the puck into the zone and dropped it to Nick Schmaltz who found Barrett Hayton open by the left circle. The center wired it home for the 2-0 lift, his fifth goal of the season and first since Oct. 16.
Calgary got on the board at 3:53 of the second period with a goal from Anthony Mantha to make it 2-1, but Utah swiftly responded 17 seconds later.
Maveric Lamoureux scored his first NHL goal with a blast from the point to put Utah up 3-1 at 4:10. Jack McBain threw the puck off the board from behind the net which Kevin Stenlund pushed up to Lamoureux for the fiery shot. The 20-year-old defenseman was recalled from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners last week.
“Especially scoring here with all the fans, that was loud. It was something like I dreamed of. That was definitely special,” Lamoureux said. “I was just really happy when I saw it go in.”
Utah had gone five games and 14 opportunities without a power play goal ahead of Wednesday night. Sergachev changed that at 16:32 of the middle frame while Utah skated on the man advantage. The defenseman sniped it from just above the right circle to make it 4-1.
Clayton Keller potted Utah’s second power-play goal of the game at 5:13 of the third period. The rebound of Dylan Guenther’s shot popped over to Keller and he one-timed it in for the final 5-1 scoreline.
“I thought we were aggressive and we were committed to go to the net and get open for each other and actually work on the power play. That’s why it worked,” Sergachev said. “It’s nice to win in front of our fans and actually show them the way we can play and win.”
Utah’s team defense was bolstered by the addition of Olli Määttä who was acquired in a trade from the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night. After a quick turnaround, Määttä played 20:06 against the Flames and rotated skating with all of Utah’s defensemen as they worked to find a match.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Newly acquired Utah Hockey Club defenseman Olli Maatta (2) warms up with the team for the first time before their NHL game against the Calgary Flames at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
“I just wanted to go out there and play,” Määttä said. “It was quite the night and quite the morning, but I think the moment I came in here guys welcomed me really good. I can tell this organization is a great one. … It just feels right.”
The Hockey Club’s overall play Wednesday was a welcomed improvement from Monday’s collapse. But it only matters if the team can keep it up — that’s a clear message in the locker room. Utah simplified, was gritty and had a heightened sense of urgency. Now can it do it in consecutive games? The team has a four-game road trip coming up to figure that out.
“That’s the challenge here,” Keller said. “It’s the best league in the world and it’s hard to do it consistently and every single night. That’s something that we are striving for.”
