BS-Divison with tightest playoff spot race Everything was going Utah's way as captain Clayton Keller scored its fourth goal of the night to put the team up 4-1 against the Anaheim Ducks. Keller had already secured a franchise record with the goal as he became the first player in Utah Hockey Club history to have 4 points in a single game. On top of that, his 2 goals and 2 assists happened before the second period even finished. So with the hat trick in sight, Utah fans watched in anticipation hoping that Keller could get his third goal to finish off the blowout they were witnessing. Instead, the Anaheim Ducks (13-15-4) scored 4 unanswered goals to win 5-4 in a shootout and stun Utah (16-11-6). Among those goals was a game-winner from Ducks forward Mason Mctavish, his first of the night. Utah was really close to scoring in the shootout period, but a shot from Keller ended up bouncing off the crossbar rather than going in for a hat trick. The comeback for the Ducks didn't come immediately as it chipped away at the score overtime scoring once in the second period and twice in the third to tie the game. When Anaheim scored its third goal, it seemed as though Utah backup goalie Jaxson Stauber had done enough to save the puck from a shot from Ducks player Robby Fabbri. However, the puck slowly emerged from under Stauber's legs and went into the net. It was unfortunate, but Utah Hockey Club still held a 4-3 lead. That all changed for Utah after it committed its sixth penalty of the day on a slashing call from Utah forward Logan Cooley. Though Utah had five penalty kills on the day, it wouldn't be able to stop Anaheim Ducks forward Brett Leason from scoring on the power play with a shot going to the upper right part of the net past Stauber's head. Despite the tie, Utah had a golden opportunity to win the game in the closing seconds of overtime, but its own Nick Schmaltz was unable to rebound a shot from teammate Dylan Guenther and the game went to shoutout. The game was much different in the beginning as Utah was rolling early. It took only 1:26 to come off the game clock before Utah got its first goal of the game. The first goal of the day was from Keller as he got the puck from Utah's Juuso Valimaki right in front of Lukas Dostal, the Anaheim Duck's goalie. It looked as though Dostal was able to save the puck initially, but he was unable to locate the puck before Keller was able to put it in the net off a rebound. Anaheim would be able to respond with a goal of its own as it took advantage of an Utah turnover. With only one defenseman back, Utah was unable to stop Fabbri as he was able to score on Stauber's right side after he was caught leaning to his left. After the Ducks stopped Utah's first power play, Utah would be given another power play oppurutnity after slashing was called on the Ducks. However, Utah would commit a penalty of its own as Cooley illegally used his hand on the face off. Rather than a power play, both teams would play 4-on-4. While it seemed as though Utah wasted a great opportunity, it turned out to work out favorably for Utah. With the extra space on the ice, Utah seemed much more comfortable and was able to get in offensive zone with much greater ease and Utah's Barret Hayton would score his first goal since Oct. 30. The second period was also great for Utah as scores from both Cooley and Keller would put it up 4-1 against the Ducks, but would also serve as the last time Utah would score at all. It'll be a short turnaround for Utah as it plays the second of its back-to- back homestand against the Dallas Stars Dec. 23. Will Utah continue to have a hot streak despite the loss? Let me know down below.
