Utah Hockey Club’s four goals had one common denominator.
It was Clayton Keller.
The captain’s four-point night — which included one goal and three assists — powered his team past the St. Louis Blues in a 4-2 win Saturday at Delta Center.
Keller had a hand in every Utah scoring play, helping it snap a three-game losing streak and claim two important divisional points in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
“He’s the main driver for our team. He’s an unbelievable player,” said Logan Cooley who had a career-high three points. “It’s awesome to see how hard he works, too, and what he’s willing to do to be the best. I think it kind of gets everyone going a little more.”
Tyler Tucker gave the Blues an early 1-0 lead at 2:05 of the first period with a snapshot directly off a St. Louis face-off win. Liam O’Brien proceeded to fight Tucker during the next shift and things subsequently turned around for Utah as ‘Spicy Tuna’ headed off for the five-minute major.
Michael Kesselring opened scoring while The Club skated on the man advantage. With Mikhail Sergachev sidelined day to day with an upper-body injury, Kesselring was moved to run the point on the first power play unit — and he made the most of it.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) looks to pass the puck during the second period of the game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.
The defenseman got the puck above the left circle and ripped it past Blues’ goaltender Jordan Binnington to make it 1-1 at 6:06. The play marked Kesselring’s fifth goal of the season and first power-play goal of his career. Cooley and Keller picked up the assists.
Nick Schmaltz followed it up with a knock-in tally while stationed in the St. Louis crease. Keller found his linemate with a slick backdoor pass at 8:25 for the 2-1 boost. With the goal, Schmaltz extended his point streak to five games.
Keller logged his third point of the period — and in less than four minutes of ice time, nonetheless — for the 3-1 scoreline at 10:31. Cooley kept it in the zone with a good forecheck, got tripped and still mustered the puck to Keller who looped around and sniped it in for his 15th goal of the year.
“It’s always just a special feeling for me playing against [the Blues],” said Keller, the Missouri native. “The team I grew up watching, going to all the games. Watching my favorite players, idolizing those guys — a lot of memories.”
Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) shoots the puck for the goal against St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) and goalie Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
The first line of Keller, Cooley and Schmaltz combined for six points in the opening frame and kept it going in the second period.
“It allows you to feel good early on in the game. Us as a line, we had a lot of touches early. It allows you to feel the puck more and gives you more confidence to make plays,” Cooley said.
While Jake Neighbours scored on the power play for the Blues to make it 3-2 at 1:32, Cooley regained Utah’s two-goal advantage with his third point of the night. Keller gathered the puck along the boards after Juuso Välimäki dumped it in and dished it to Cooley by the right hash marks to wire home.
Cooley earned the 14th goal and 41st point of his sophomore showing while also extending his point streak to four games — three of which he has scored in. He native had two other three-point performances before Saturday — Nov. 11, 2023, and March 28, 2024.
“He’s a gamer, for sure. Since day one you could see all the talent,” Keller said of Cooley. “He’s quiet a little bit, but he works tremendously hard and he really cares. It’s been great to play with him and build some chemistry.”
Despite taking three penalties in the third period and skating on the penalty kill for six minutes, Utah held its lead and stopped St. Louis from closing the gap until the final buzzer.
“There’s no better feeling than winning. And especially on home ice, these fans deserve it. It’s felt like it’s been a year since we had a win at home,” Cooley said. “It was a great effort by everyone in here.”
Losing Dylan Guenther to injury was no doubt daunting, but the resulting combination of Cooley and Keller has been fruitful for Utah. By the end of 60 minutes, the two forwards had a cumulative seven points and willed The Club out of its losing slump.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) during a game against the New York Rangers at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Given its recent record, it was important for Utah to win no matter the opponent on Saturday. But it does carry a bit more weight that it was the Blues. The Club is right behind St. Louis — now by three points — in the race for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.
“We found a way. We had the lead after two, we’re at home. We played against a team we’re chasing for the playoffs and we won. That’s big for us, that’s good,” head coach André Tourigny said. “With the stretch we were in, we needed it.”
