The Utah Hockey Membership goes into the 4 Nations Face-Off break on a excessive observe after profitable towards the Washington Capitals by a rating of 5-4 in a shootout on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Utah stays within the playoff hunt and moreover, wins their first-ever shootout in franchise historical past. Listed here are some takeaways from Sunday’s recreation.
Josh Doan Is Getting Higher
Josh Doan has had an fascinating season. He earned a spot on Utah’s roster after an excellent preseason however struggled all through his first couple of video games. It prompted Utah to ship him right down to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Tucson Roadrunners.
The demotion was warranted. Doan solely had three factors throughout his first stint with Utah. On high of that, he was enjoying third-line minutes when he could possibly be within the AHL with the Roadrunners enjoying top-line minutes. With that, Doan was despatched right down to the AHL the place he thrived identical to the final time he performed with the Roadrunners. The younger ahead had 21 factors in 25 video games within the minors, which additionally earned him an AHL All-Star choice.
Because of an damage to Dylan Guenther, Doan acquired referred to as again as much as Utah. With elevated minutes, he now has a complete of 9 factors this season and factors in his previous three video games, together with Sunday’s recreation towards the Capitals the place he performed a serious position within the win.
Just one:10 into the sport, Doan let a wrist shot fly from close to the blue line, which managed to sneak previous Logan Thompson. It helped Utah rapidly leap out to a 2-0 lead inside two minutes of the sport starting. He additionally assisted on Jack McBain’s objective giving him his second multi-point recreation of the season.
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Head coach André Tourigny was impressed with the way in which Doan performed. He additionally identified that that is one other recreation the place it’s not simply the highest gamers producing, which is what Utah desperately wants.
“He was actually good tonight,” Tourigny stated. “I feel he was most likely our greatest participant. I actually appreciated the way in which he performed. That line was actually good. It’s good when it begins to come back slightly bit from everyone. Everyone chips in.”
Doan was despatched again right down to the AHL following Sunday’s recreation. Nevertheless, followers shouldn’t be involved as that is probably because of the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off break. It’s higher to have Doan enjoying and creating than having him simply sit round.
Doan knew for some time he would most likely be heading again right down to Arizona for the upcoming two-week break. In between video games with the Roadrunners, Doan will probably be visiting his household who’re additionally in Arizona. When he probably will get referred to as again as much as Utah after the break is over, he’ll be bringing some firm again up north with him.
“I’ll most likely go residence, see my household for a bit,” Doan stated. “It’s only a fast flight right down to Arizona. I’m bringing my canine again up who hasn’t been with me. That’s the plan.”
We’ll see how Doan does in his third stint within the AHL as he joins a Tucson Roadrunners workforce that’s determined for wins. Nevertheless, it’s clear that he’s solely gotten higher and higher after each stint with the Roadrunners, and his stats with Utah have confirmed that.
Utah Wins Their First-Ever Shootout
In 56 video games this season, Utah has executed lots. A regulation win, an time beyond regulation win, a shutout, you identify it, Utah has most likely achieved it. Nevertheless, earlier than Sunday’s recreation, the workforce had by no means received in a shootout. That they had gotten there twice however had by no means received. The third time was a allure because the franchise received its first shootout towards the Capitals.
Nick Schmaltz scored within the first spherical for Utah however that was it for the scoring as Karel Vejmelka stopped each single Capitals shooter to win the sport. It’s one other milestone for the franchise because it treks towards the top of their inaugural season.
Vejmelka performed unbelievable for being in his second straight recreation up to now 24 hours. He made 30 saves on 32 photographs and posted a .938 save share. He by no means appeared drained or shaken up for being yanked into the sport. As a substitute, he was considered one of Utah’s greatest gamers.
“He was assertive,” Tourigny stated. “I by no means felt he was shaky or no matter. He was assertive. He needed to play, he was assured.”
Nevertheless, the explanation why Vejmelka even performed isn’t an excellent one. Connor Ingram left the sport within the first interval with an damage. There wasn’t a lot of an replace after the sport aside from Tourigny confirming that Ingram was certainly damage.
Utah did lose one other participant through the recreation as Vladislav Kolyachonok was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. It does lose Utah some useful defensive depth. Whereas he didn’t play lots this season, in each recreation he appeared in, he appeared fairly good as a depth defenseman. He additionally was a tough employee as he was virtually at all times the primary one to get on the ice, generally skating method earlier than practices have been scheduled. Nevertheless, for the younger defenseman, it’s an incredible alternative for him as he’ll get much more ice time with the Penguins.
Focusing again on the win, it’s an enormous one for Utah. They took down probably the greatest groups within the league and ended the three-game street journey with a 2-1-0 file. It’s a large optimistic observe heading right into a two-week break. Even higher? With a 24-23-9 file, Utah is simply a few factors exterior the second wild-card spot within the Western Convention, which is presently held by the Vancouver Canucks. There have been some low factors lately for the workforce, however that is undoubtedly a excessive level as momentum shifts of their favor heading into the ultimate couple of weeks of the season.
The Two Week Break Begins
Now, the workforce will get a much-deserved two-week break. Olli Määttä and Juuso Välimäki would be the lone Utah representatives on the 4 Nations Face-Off as they play for Crew Finland. The remainder of the workforce will get a while to relaxation, reset, and heal, which is what Doan says would be the main focus for Utah.
“It’s good to form of get a reset,” Doan stated. “For people within the again half the yr, it’s a kind of issues which might be essential for guys is to get slightly little bit of a break and refocus and reset the physique, heal from minor issues which might be nagging.”
It additionally gives an incredible likelihood for the gamers and workers to spend a while with household. As talked about, Doan will probably be doing that in his AHL stint again down in Arizona. Tourigny additionally stated the break for him is supposed to spend time together with his circle of relatives as properly.
In two weeks, Utah will probably be again enjoying for his or her lives, however they may have some reinforcements. Sean Durzi and Robert Bortuzzo are set to return from damage on the finish of the break and relying on Ingram’s damage, he might return as properly. If this Utah workforce can get absolutely wholesome, it could possibly be a lethal push and a enjoyable competitors between them, the Canucks, and the Calgary Flames to see who can declare the ultimate wild-card spot within the Western Convention.
The subsequent time we’ll see Utah is Feb. 22 as they journey to California to play the LA Kings. The Kings are 29-17-7 this season and are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Anaheim Geese. These two groups final met in October the place Utah misplaced 3-2.
