Alex Kerfoot shows versatility in another Utah Hockey Club loss

Alex Kerfoot sat at his locker on Wednesday morning and said he expected more of himself.

“I feel like I have more to bring to the table. I haven’t been playing as well as I’d like to the last little bit,” the Utah Hockey Club forward said. “I’ve really got to build and find my way as we come down the stretch and help this team.”

Kerfoot’s responsibility heightened in Utah’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday at Delta Center. With Logan Cooley out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, Kerfoot was placed at center on the first line between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.

When reflecting on his game earlier in the week, Kerfoot had a clear mission for elevating his play.

“I just want to be a little bit more decisive with the puck,” Kerfoot said. “When I get into the O-zone, make sure that I’m attacking the net, getting more pucks to the net, getting around the net.”

That came to fruition against Columbus.

Kerfoot worked his way in front of the Blue Jackets’ crease, earned inside ice and was there to knock in the rebound of John Marino’s initial shot from the point to give Utah a 2-0 lead 29 seconds into the third period. The play marked Kerfoot’s first point since Jan. 4 and first goal since Dec. 30.

He has now played on every line for Utah this season, further displaying the depth he provides for the forward group.

“Kerfoot is a great player. Super easy to play with,” Keller said. “He can kind of do it all anywhere in the lineup. It was good to play with him there and get our confidence going and chemistry.”

The 30-year-old is a penalty-kill stalwart for the Club and was a big part of Utah eliminating any high-danger chances from Columbus in the first period when it had a four-minute power play; Ian Cole was dealt a double-minor for high-sticking.

“I think he did a great job,” head coach André Tourigny said. “He played with pace, energy.”

None of it ultimately mattered, though, as Utah dropped its fourth straight game and second consecutive on home ice after holding third-period leads.

“You’re not going to win every game. Right now we’ve got to fight through it,” Kerfoot said. “We’ve got to find ways. We’re doing some good things. It’s not going our way.”

After a scoreless first period, Schmaltz got Utah on the board 41 seconds into the middle frame while his team skated on the power play. Barrett Hayton got the puck from Keller on the left side before driving the net and dishing a cross-crease pass for Schmaltz to tip past Columbus goaltender Danil Tarasov.

Kerfoot’s ensuing tally made it 2-0. And then came the Blue Jackets.

Kirill Marchenko made it 2-1 at 6:25 as Utah let Columbus waltz into the zone and could not get control of the loose puck in the slot. Kent Johnson followed it up with a snapshot from the left side that trickled past Karel Vejmelka for the 2-2 equalizer at 11:42 and forced overtime.

A Utah turnover in the O-zone during overtime led to the Blue Jackets’ game-winning goal. Zach Werenski stripped Hayton of the puck and dashed the other way on a 2-on-0 with Cole Sillinger and buried it off the rush at 1:01 for the final 3-2 scoreline.

“Kind of let them back in the game. In 60 minutes they’re going to have a push. I thought they pushed hard in the third and they made it harder on us. It’s frustrating for sure,” Keller said. “Just got to keep going, learn from it. Having confidence, believing you can make the play in the third. I think that’s the next step.”

The team did not think it had a particularly poor third period. Utah had the advantage in scoring chances and sustained zone time. Columbus got some bounces that shifted the momentum. Unfortunately, though, the scoreboard dictates the points in the standings and Utah finished the night with just one.

“We need to find a solution,” Tourigny said. “We’re in solution mode.”