Utah glides past Winnipeg for rare home win

Field Level Media|published: Tue 21st January, 24:42 2025

Jan 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) and defenseman Dylan DeMelo (2) during the second period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Barrett Hayton had a goal and two assists in the Utah Hockey Club's 5-2 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Monday in Salt Lake City.

Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist, while Josh Doan and Nick Schmaltz each had two assists for Utah. Olli Maatta, Logan Cooley and Matias Maccelli also scored in the win.

Utah is on a two-game win streak, its first since a four-game run from Dec. 12-20. Both of its latest victories have come on home ice, where the club has won only eight times in 23 games (8-11-4).

Connor Ingram stopped 23 shots in a much-needed quality outing for the Utah goalie. Ingram struggled to a 3.38 goals-against average in his first 15 games of the season and also missed close to two months recovering from an upper-body injury.

Nino Niederreiter and Dylan DeMelo scored for Winnipeg and Nikolaj Ehlers recorded two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves as the Jets dropped their second straight game.

The contest was scoreless until exactly 16 minutes into the second period, when Maatta's long-range shot beat a screened Hellebuyck. It was Maatta's first goal since he scored two for Detroit against the New York Islanders on Feb. 29, 2024.

The Utah Hockey Club struck again on Cooley's late dagger 18 seconds before the second intermission. A Winnipeg turnover set up a 2-on-1 chance for Utah, with Cooley converting Hayton's feed.

Cooley has scored in four consecutive games, with six total points (four goals, two assists) during that streak.

Doan's tremendous hustle play set up Utah's next goal 4:53 into the third period. He beat Neal Pionk to a loose puck deep in Winnipeg's zone and sent a touch pass to a streaking Hayton for the conversion.

A stumble from Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg set up an outstanding three-touch passing play for Utah at 8:04 of the third period, finished by Maccelli for the tally.

Niederreiter responded 28 seconds later with Winnipeg's first goal. DeMelo further narrowed the deficit with a goal 11:48 into the third period, but Keller sealed Utah's win with an empty-netter at the 17:55 mark.

Jets captain Adam Lowry (undisclosed injury) didn't play in the last two periods.

--Field Level Media