Utah was down 2-3 entering the third period before it scored three unanswered goals on route to its win
Utah was down 2-3 entering the third period before it scored three unanswered goals on route to its win
In a 5-3 win against the Calgary Flames (18-13-7), Utah (17-15-6) snapped its five game losing streak with Utah's Lawson Crouse leading the team with two goals.
A big reason was its elevated play in the third period.
With a 2-3 deficit to start the period, Utah made quick work of the situation, scoring in the first minute of a period on its way to its first win of the new year.
It was only the second time Utah had done that this season with the other happening in its first regulation road win against the St. Louis Blues.
It was Utah's captain Clayton Keller, who missed the 4-1 loss to the Oilers due to illness, that scored after receiving a pass Utah's Olli Maataa.
Mattaa originally looked as if he was going to shoot based on how he was positioning his stick. With it turning out to be a pass, Flames goalie Dan Vlader lingered just a second too long as it created enough time for Keller to get a shot past him. It was one of two assists Maatta would have in the third period along.
With the game tied 3-3, it wasn't long before Utah scored its second goal of the period.
It took Utah only two minutes after Keller's goal to score again, this time with Crouse taking advantage of a breakaway opportunity.
For Crouse's second goal, Utah managed to catch Calgary as it was subbing its players out.
With a deflection of the puck going in the air, it seemed as though the Calgary players thought that it would have enough time to get some fresh bodies on the ice. However, Maatta retain and pass the puck faster than Calgary could get its subs in.
After receiving the pass from Maataa, Utah's Nick Bjugstad would be able to get it back to Crouse allowing him to breakaway for his second goal of the night. It was his first goal in over a month as he last scored when Utah played the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 29.
Crouse also managed to get the first point of the game after a pass from Utah's Ian Cole. But it was Utah's Liam O'Brien who made the important hustle play as he managed to jar the puck loose from two Calgary players behind their own goal.
With Utah up 4-3, it would hold strong defensively only giving the Flames 6 shots on the goal for the whole period, three of which came in the final five minutes.
But even with Keller giving the flames a power play opportunity midway through the period, the flames would have more broken sticks, 1, than shots on goal, 0, during the power play.
With only two minutes of game time remaining, the Flames would opt to have an empty net in a desperate attempt to tie the game up. However, Utah's Kevin Stenlund would put the final nail in the coffin as he broke away and scored on the empty net.
Before it had its dominant third period, Utah would allow Calgary to get the lead in the second period.
Utah held a 2-1 lead after its own Logan Cooley scored on a power play that also saw Flames captain Mikael Blacklund unable to properly defend due to him losing his stick after an incidental collison with Keller.
However, Calgary would answer with a score of its own a minute after allowing the goal. With Utah's Alexander Kerfoot draped over him, Flames forward Connor Zary who would score as he somehow put the puck under Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka's legs.
The Flames would score again later as it would take advantage of Utah turnover right behind its own net.
A pass from Utah's Michael Kesselring turned into a giveaway after his teammate, Juuso Valimaki, wasn't properly positioned to receive it. Calgary would strike on this oppurtunity as its own Matt Coronato would recover the puck and pass to a wide open Brayden Pachal.
However, the Flames off would eventually die off as it reached the third period.
Up next for Utah is the last game of its four game road trip against the Dallas Stars. The last time these two met, Dallas won in Utah 3-2 to go up 2-0 in the season series.
Meanwhile for Calgary, it will look to rebound against a Nashville team that currently has the second worst record in the league.
Can Utah generate a new win streak in Dallas this Saturday? Let me know down below.