Raleigh, North Carolina • The jumbotron at Lenovo Center showed images of Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen, Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin, accompanied by a booming ‘4 Nations Face-Off’ logo.
The PA system, paired with cheers from the crowd, wished the players good luck at the upcoming NHL best-on-best tournament. Saturday was the Carolina Hurricanes’ last game before the 4 Nations break and they beat Utah Hockey Club 7-3.
Down below the jumbotron was Clayton Keller.
The Utah captain scored twice in his team’s loss, marking his 15th multi-point showing of the season. But he won’t be playing in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off after being left off Team USA.
Since the rosters were announced on Dec. 4, Keller has logged 35 points in 28 games, including two four-point performances which were career-highs.
He has had a little extra drive.
(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.
“It’s a team you want to be a part of,” Keller said. “I’m just focused on our team and the other stuff will take care of itself. But yeah, I’d definitely say [it has added motivation].”
Does the forward think he could’ve helped Team USA?
“I mean,” Keller said. “Yes, of course. Yes.”
It’s not hard to make the case for Utah’s captain.
Keller has continued to be a bright spot in games as deflating as Saturday for Utah. The goal-scoring, of course, is nice. But it is also the play-making, two-way game, defensive responsibility and gritty edge that has made Keller an MVP-caliber this season. It is what would have made him a valuable piece to Team USA, too.
His two goals against the Hurricanes were a taste of what he’s been doing, well, for most of his career.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) looks for an open teammate during a game against the New York Rangers at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
On the first, Keller blocked Dmitry Orlov’s attempted pass from the point, gathered the puck and got going up ice, out-skating three Carolina players. In all alone, the 26-year-old slipped it five-hole on Pyotr Kochetkov to bring Utah within one, 3-2, at 10:19 of the second period.
After giving up four goals in the second period, Keller scored on the power play in the third to give Utah some semblance of life. Mikhail Sergachev dished the puck over to Keller by the right circle where he one-timed it top shelf for the 5-3 scoreline at 16:11.
It was Keller’s 20th goal of the season, leapfrogging Dylan Guenther (who has 19) for most on the team.
“I’ve been having some good looks lately so it’s good to capitalize on those two shots tonight. Just have to keep it going,” Keller said. “And more importantly, I’m worried about our team and doing whatever we can to get the two points.”
Despite Keller’s best efforts, Utah came away with zero points — partially because it kept beating itself. It was turnover galore Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jalen Chatfield gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead at 10:09 of the first period after Utah turned the puck over at the offensive blue line. Chatfield took off on a 2-on-1 with Jordan Staal the other way and ripped it from the right side to beat Karel Vejmelka.
Josh Doan tied the matchup 1-1 while on the power play at the end of the opening frame, but it did little to keep Carolina at bay. The Hurricanes exploded for four goals in the second on the back of Utah’s miscues.
“When you give the opportunity to the opponent to create, I will say, free offense like that — that’s tough,” head coach André Tourigny said. “If you told me we’re going to Carolina, we’ll have 40 shots, we’ll have more possession than them and we’ll score three goals — I would have thought we got two points. Obviously, when you give up seven, I knew we would not win.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club right wing Josh Doan (91) in NHL action between the Utah Hockey Club and the San Jose Sharks, at the Delta Center, on Friday, Jan 10, 2025.
Another turnover led to the Hurricanes’ third goal — this time, it was from Vejmelka. The goaltender came far out of the net to play an incoming puck but instead shot it directly to Carolina forward Aho who flipped it in for the 3-1 boost at 8:35.
After Keller’s breakaway, Aho followed it up with a short-handed goal to make it 4-1. Jarvis battled for the puck along the boards with Michael Carcone and popped it out in front where Aho knocked it into the back of the net. Utah has now allowed short-handed goals in back-to-back games.
Jarvis potted his second of the game off, yet again, mismanagement of the puck by the Club. Olli Määttä could not gain full control of the rubber and Jarvis dashed the other way and deked Vejmelka for the 5-2 boost at 19:15.
(Karl DeBlaker | AP) Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his goal while acknowledging his teammate Seth Jarvis (24) for the pass during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
An empty-net tally from Jordan Martinook at 17:16 of the third and a wrist shot from Jack Roslovic brought the contest to its final 7-3 standing following Keller’s second goal.
Utah now has a quick turnaround, playing the second game of its back-to-back Sunday afternoon against the Washington Capitals.
“I think we had a couple of mistakes that cost us. We were in that game and we just did it to ourselves a little bit, giving up a shorty and simple mistakes. It sucks to lose that one,” Keller said. “It’s a huge game tomorrow for us so we learn from these mistakes, turn the page and be ready to go tomorrow.”
