Barrett Hayton scores twice, Karel Vejmelka earns first shutout of season as Utah Hockey Club beats Minnesota, 4-0, for third straight win

Utah Hockey Club did not have much left come the third period. The team was tied 1-1 with the Ottawa Senators at the beginning of the final 20 minutes, but allowed two goals against and dropped its second consecutive game Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre.

Against a tough Ottawa team that recorded 12 hits in the first period, Utah came out aggressive and disruptive on defense in the second. But by the third period, it was Ottawa who broke through Utah's defense first with two goals.

Claude Giroux broke a third-period tie and added an assist, rookie Leevi Merilainen made 34 saves and the Ottawa Senators beat Utah 3-1 on Sunday night.

Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season, Barrett Hayton scored twice and Utah beat the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Thursday night for its third straight victory.

At first glance, the Utah Hockey Club played a perfect game on Thursday. But the stats suggest there was lots of room for improvement.

Leevi Merilainen made 34 saves, and the Ottawa Senators won 3-1 against the Utah Hockey Club at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday. Merilainen, a rookie who is 5-1-1 in his past seven starts, stretched to make a pad save on a bat from Logan Cooley to keep it 3-1 at 18:14 of the third

Clayton Keller's 18th goal of the season not enough as Utah falls, 3-1, in Ottawa

Utah's lone goal came on a flukey bounce in the second period. Clayton Keller sent a pass into the slot that was intended for Logan Cooley, but it hit off Ottawa's Ridly Greig and into the back of the net. It was Keller's 18th goal of the season and extended his point streak to seven games.

Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse (67) and goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) hug after a win over the Minnesota Wild of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) St. Paul, Minn. • Utah Hockey Club has had this week circled on the calendar.

Having their best player and their captain back on the ice didn’t help them turn around their recent struggles at home.

(St. Paul, MN) -- Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Utah Hockey Club blanked the Wild 4-0 on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.