It was a Michael Kesselring fight that sparked it.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman met Toronto’s Simon Benoit at center ice for the second-period, spirited bout while Utah Hockey Club trailed the Maple Leafs 3-0.
While Kesselring went straight to the locker room after hitting his head on the ice to end the battle of flying punches, his team exploded for three goals in just under four minutes to knot the match 3-3 ahead of the final frame.
“Unreal,” head coach André Tourigny said.
Kesselring returned to the game later in the second period; he said he did not have to go through concussion protocol. When Kesselring reemerged from the locker room, his team was suddenly right back in the contest.
Utah ultimately fell 4-3 in a shootout Monday at Delta Center but earned one point against one of the NHL’s strongest teams — thanks to Kesselring’s shift in momentum — in the Western Conference playoff race.
Since the Club has gotten healthy on the backend, Kesselring has seen his time on ice decline a bit from the 20-minute range to the 15-minute range. The 25-year-old said he viewed it as too much of a negative at first and had to change his mindset to embrace the chances he does get.
Monday was a prime example of just that.
“Kess got us going there with the fight — that was awesome for us. Really elevated us,” said Clayton Keller. “He’s been unbelievable. He’s gotten better every single game since the break. He’s such a skilled player, he’s big, he can skate. He wants to make plays, he’s always joining the rush, he’s got a bomb – we’re really lucky to have him.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton (27) is celebrated after trying up the game 3-3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL hockey game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 10, 2025.
“It felt good there to do something positive,” Kesselring said. “I’m playing a little less so I have to find ways to impact the game. I thought it was a good opportunity.”
Utah gave up two power-play goals in the first period — to the Leafs’ William Nylander and Calle Järnkrok — to go down 2-0. Toronto widened the gap to open the second with a snapshot from Benoit for the 3-0 advantage at 4:48.
Then came Kesselring’s fight. And then came the goals.
Michael Carcone got the Club on the board first. The forward rushed into the zone and towards the net as Josh Doan dropped the puck to his tape to tip past Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll. Carcone’s sixth goal of the season made it 3-1 at 8:14.
Just 49 seconds later, Nick Schmaltz buried his fourth goal in five games — and 15th of the year — to pull the Club within one, 3-2. The alternate captain stationed himself by the right doorstep and knocked in Olli Määttä’s sharp pass from the high slot. Keller picked up his 50th assist of the season on the play which is a new career-high for the captain.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) and Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf (64) faceoff during an NHL hockey game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 10, 2025.
“I think as the game went on we got better. Guys stepped up in big moments,” Keller said. “It sucks to not get the two points tonight but I think everyone dug in tonight, we stayed together no matter what was going on.”
With Benoit in the penalty box for tripping, Barrett Hayton found the equalizer while skating on the first power-play unit. The center took his regular posting in front of the crease, made space for himself, screened Woll and got his stick on Mikhail Sergachev’s initial shot from the left side to secure the 3-3 scoreline at 12:11.
It was Hayton’s fifth power-play goal of the season — which marks a new career-high for him, too.
Karel Vejmelka kept things locked in the third period with an acrobatic save on what looked like a sure goal from Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly. John Tavares back-handed the puck to Rielly who was left with a wide-open net on the right side, but Vejmelka extended far enough with his stick to keep it out. It forced overtime.
Utah did not crumble when adversity hit. Instead, it battled back. That’s been a difference as the season has progressed.
“It’s huge. We talk about the youth of our team — we’re the second-youngest team in the league — there’s a growing curve for us,” Tourigny said. “The way the guys embrace it and the way they learn and progress — it’s amazing. That’s why we want to play those kinds of games, meaningful games. They’re in it.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) makes a pass past Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) during an NHL hockey game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 10, 2025.
Following a back-and-forth overtime in which the Club held strong possession and had some high-danger chances, Toronto claimed the night’s second point with a shootout win. Mitch Marner sealed the deal for his team.
Utah Hockey Club will close out its two-game homestand Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, a team that is four points behind it in the wild-card push. Utah stands three points out of playoff position as it stands.
“Really good effort. We need to build on it,” Kesselring said. “We need to keep playing that way into Anaheim because we need the two points.”
