SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 14: Sean Durzi #50 of Utah Hockey Club skates during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on March 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
After two consecutive blowout losses, Sean Durzi and the Utah Hockey Club went into Sunrise, Florida, with he tall task of looking to break their slump against the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
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 teams went the first period scoreless, with neither side finding much room.
The second period was a rough one for Utah; the team conceded four penalties and was on the kill for nearly 35% of the period. However, even with several golden opportunities, the Panthers were only able to capitalize on one of them. Florida scored on the team’s first advantage, less than three minutes into the period, but came up empty on the other three.
With a sloppy period from Utah only resulting in a one-goal deficit, the Hockey Club came out in the third only a play away from tying the contest.
Utah went on the power play less than a minute into the third, but a hook from Nick Schmaltz just moments later put the teams even at four players apiece.
Even though the sides were once again balanced, having only eight skaters on the ice opened up room for breakaway chances, which Utah took advantage of.
The tying goal happened quickly as Barrett Hayton intercepted a pass in front of the net, immediately pushing the pace in the other direction. It turned into a 2-on-1 as Hayton skated up the far side of the ice with Sean Durzi on the other side.
As Hayton approached the net, he slid a pass across the face of goal to Durzi, who buried it into the back of the net with a quick wrist shot.
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
The goal was only Sean Durzi’s second of the season, but it could not have come at a more opportune time as Utah is now neck and neck with the defending champions.
It’s never over until it’s mathematically impossible, but after Utah’s brutal loss in Tampa Bay, the playoffs are essentially out of reach for the NHL’s newest franchise.
With only 10 games left on the schedule and currently 8 points (potentially 10 depending on the Blues game against St. Louis) out from the final wild card spot, Utah would likely need to win every remaining matchup and hope that the teams ahead of them completely collapse.
Not exactly likely.
To add some perspective, however, this has still been a season of progress for the Utah Hockey Club.
While losing 8-0 is never acceptable, the goal this season was to play meaningful games, and Utah delivered that.
“We’re going to look like we’re going to win the Stanley Cup some nights, then other nights we’re not,” Bill Armstrong said earlier in the season.
For now, Utah needs to decide whether they feel comfortable waving the white flag or not.
“We just need to make a decision if we want to be in the playoffs. If we want to fight for the playoffs or not,” Sergachev said.
“This is kind of a punch in the face where we’ve got take a step back and see what we want really out of this season.”
If they do, Utah can use the final 10 games to develop some of their AHL skaters and give Stauber some quality minutes in net.
If not, they’ll need to maintain the next-game mentality and quickly move on.
