Utah rallies to beat Canucks for boost in playoff chase

Field Level Media|published: Sun 16th March, 22:57 2025

Mar 16, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka (70) watches Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) handle the puck in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Logan Cooley's goal 5:08 into the third period broke a tie and the Utah Hockey Club came from behind to defeat the host Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Sunday night.

Kevin Stenlund and Clayton Keller also scored for Utah, which had lost four of its last six and is battling to remain in playoff contention. Vancouver and the St. Louis Blues are tied on points for the final Western Conference wild-card spot, and Utah moved to two points back.

Nick Schmaltz had two assists and Karel Vejmelka stopped 18 shots for Utah.

Defenseman Quinn Hughes provided the goal for the Canucks, who had won their last two. Kevin Lankinen made 20 saves.

Cooley put in a rebound from the bottom part of the right circle for the game-winner. Keller added an empty-net goal with 31 seconds left, his 24th goal of the year.

The Utah Hockey Club killed a four-minute Vancouver power play during the middle of the third.

The game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Hughes' power-play goal 2:37 into the second period gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead. His wrist shot from the left point deflected in off the hand of Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

Stenlund tied it with 7:56 left in the middle period. He one-timed a shot from the bottom of the right circle off a wraparound cross-crease pass from Nick Bjugstad.

The Canucks had only 10 shots through the first two periods.

An apparent goal by the Utah Hockey Club's Dylan Guenther 1:26 into the second period was immediately waved off because of goaltender interference by teammate Michael Carcone. There was no penalty called.

Utah outshot Vancouver 10-4 in the first period. Lankinen was forced to make a big save on a tip attempt in close by Guenther in the game's first minute.

Utah forward Liam O'Brien missed the first game of what is expected to be a long absence because of a lower-body injury suffered against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. O'Brien is likely to be out for the regular season.

Canucks forward Filip Chytil did not play because of a concussion sustained on Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

--Field Level Media

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