LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Dylan Guenther #11 of the Utah Hockey Club in the second period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Utah Hockey Club was trying to bounce back and get the offense clicking tonight against the Florida Panthers after being outscored 13-1 in their last two games against Detroit and Tampa Bay.
While Utah opened much better than last night in Tampa Bay, the forwards still had a frustrating time finding scoring opportunities against a stingy Florida defense that is in the top ten in the NHL when it comes to goals against.
The second period, other than a power-play goal from Florida in the first few minutes, crawled along. Sam Bennett scored in the first four minutes to put the Panthers up 1-0, but that was it for scoring despite several chances for both teams. There were five penalties committed in the second, four of them by Utah, meaning almost half the playing minutes, one of the sides had an advantage, however, the score stayed 1-0 until the second intermission.
Somehow, after spending so much time on the penalty kill, Utah has fresh life in the third period. The clubs played 4-on-4 after trading penalties, and Barrett Hayton connected with Sean Durzi on a breakaway to tie the game at the beginning of the frame.
The rest of the period came and went, and Florida and Utah went to overtime.
Less than a minute before the game would’ve gone to a penalty shootout, Sam Bennett scored his second goal of the game to push the Florida Panthers pas the Utah Hockey Club.
Took a point. pic.twitter.com/FwHkHs0D1G
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 29, 2025
We’ve recalled goaltender Matt Villalta from @RoadrunnersAHL.
🗞️: https://t.co/AZQNHQd8Pb pic.twitter.com/nfOWqgL9B9
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Utah gets to experience Marchand in a Panthers sweater for the first time. https://t.co/0kgfCvyUVC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Per Tourigny,
Karel Vejmelka will start again tonight for #UtahHC against #TimeToHunt
16th consecutive start for Vejmelka.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Yamamoto on returning the the lineup:
“It’s an awesome feeling. I wasn’t expecting it.”
"I was playing very good hockey down in the AHL, so I think hopefully I just bring that up here. Keep making plays, keep my confidence up." https://t.co/9RUFTKGCIr
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Posting this for the real ones 🤞 pic.twitter.com/rJ43KHZyaM
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Kerfy trying to convince Stenny to play sewer 😂 pic.twitter.com/BNAlLvuDhI
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Couple changes.
Guenther up to the first.
Schmaltz down to the second with Yamamoto. https://t.co/dxYlPT6tQJ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Starting six. #UtahHC | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/hBjl4i3y6c
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Stenny back in Florida 🩵 pic.twitter.com/7qJN7pOpoH
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Keller, Cooley, and Guenther are a fun line.
Tons of firepower and creativity. Be interesting to see if they can produce. First shift was solid.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Great save in close by Vejmelka.
3 on 1 situation that resulted in a chance in close for the Panthers, but Veggie said no.
Impressive stop, especially considering he's started 16 straight.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Ferocious battling in the O-zone from Yamamoto during his most recent shift.
He might be small, but he plays big.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
First power of the night for #UtahHC as Sturm heads to the box for the Panthers.
1P: 4:49 | 0-0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 28, 2025
Panthers back to full strength and Utah's PP continues to struggle as they're just 1/8 over the last 3 games.
Great possession in the O-zone but somebody needs to shoot the puck.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
Great response from Utah following such a deflating 8-0 loss to Tampa yesterday.
Through 20 minutes Utah has been stingy, aggressive, assertive, and generated a few dangerous chances against Florida.
Vejmelka has also been good so far in his 16th straight. https://t.co/CJXPoCTh4u
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 28, 2025
End of the first. pic.twitter.com/4Gqb2fMKCx
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 28, 2025
Ian Cole to the sin bin.
He's had a tough time staying out of the box lately.
2P: 17:50 | 0-0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Panthers cash in right away.
1-0 Florida. https://t.co/lB3VyjSZ9L
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Panthers kill off another Utah PP.
Better effort from Utah, especially in terms of winning battles to maintain possession but I only counted 1 shot on goal.
Panthers were tough to break down, but someone needs to be a little more selfish.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Cooley to the box for too many men on the ice.
2P: 12:17 | 1-0 Florida
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Dylan Guenther called for hooking.
Utah struggling to stay out of the box tonight.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Clayton Keller to the box.
That's 4 Utah penalties in the 2nd period.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Penalties plagued Utah in the second as they were outshot 13-3 and trail 1-0.
Can't do much when you're desperately defending your own zone for 8 minutes. https://t.co/f4cXeeyLiH
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Down one after two. pic.twitter.com/H5GdlHvURa
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 29, 2025
#UtahHC defenseman Olli Määttä will not return to tonight’s game (lower body) against Florida.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Nick Bjugstad just put one off the post.
That's the closest Utah has come all night.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Schmaltz to box for tripping.
4 on 4 hockey for 1:05. Been a tough night for Utah's special teams.
3P: 18:34 | 1-0 Florida
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Great 2 on 1 rush.
Pushed the tempo, went right at the net, perfectly placed pass and a great shot.
Tie game in Florida! https://t.co/6VVmx462Oi
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Kesselring to the box.
6th power play for Florida tonight.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
10 straight empty trips for Utah's PP unit. https://t.co/u7yKOBnwe3
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
End of regulation.
Each teams gets a point.
Off to OT we go in Florida.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Overtime. pic.twitter.com/Eqi5g8nyAT
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 29, 2025
Marchand wants a piece of Durzi.
That's what he does folks. He's the ultimate pest.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Vejmelka has been unreal tonight.
28 stops on 29 saves.
He has to be EXHAUSTED, but he's been phenomenal.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Bennett scores.
Florida wins 2-1.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 29, 2025
Took a point. pic.twitter.com/FwHkHs0D1G
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) March 29, 2025
