^{Clayton Keller buries the game winner 13 seconds into overtime to take down the Jets.}

The Jets, looking to avenge a loss against Utah earlier in the seasons visited the Delta Center last night to try and steal 2 points on the road. After a dominating first and second period, the Mammoth almost let them. But, we’ll get to that.

FIRST PERIOD:
The Mammoth must have read my pre-game report, because right off the bat they drew the game’s first power play seconds after puck drop. Michael Carcone, skating backwards in the slot, was tripped giving Utah the first advantage.

The first unit struggled to get a lot going for the first minute, until a smart play by JJ Peterka off the boards fed Nick Schmaltz at low, far dot. Schmaltz took a second to get the shot off, allowing Connor Hellebuyck to get set and kill the opportunity. The 2nd PP unit got a chance off the draw, with Lawson Crouse tipping a pass in tight, just missing wide, and Utah couldn’t get set for anything else as the penalty expired.

Winnipeg got their first test in on Karel Vejmelka about 4 minutes in; Josh Morrissey got in at a sharp angle, but Vejmelka’s positioning was perfect. The game was fairly even for the next minute, neither team getting a rush or much of any offensive pressure.

At almost exactly 5 minutes in, a good breakout from the defensive end – started by John Marino winning a board battle – saw the puck pinball in neutral ice for a second. Dylan Guenther picked up the puck with speed, entering the Jets zone and rifling a snap shot short side. The shot missed, but the rebound off the glass went right to the tape of Lawson Crouse’s stick. Crouse lazered a one-timer up and over the shoulder of Hellebuyck, who was still trying to catch his angle, giving Utah an early lead on their 2nd shot of the game. 1-0 Utah

Utah did a good job of containing Winnipeg after the goal, not allowing much push in response. Mikhail Sergachev nearly killed a referee, but otherwise the next 3 minutes were somewhat uneventful. Kyle Connor got a chance in tight from a pass behind the net, but Vejmelka had the side of the net sealed, stopping the Winnipeg star from the equalizing goal

That was the last shot Winnipeg would muster until the last minute of the period, though, as Utah took total control of the period.

At 11 minutes to go, Utah’s first line spent nearly a minute cycling the puck, winning board battles, and forcing turnovers in the Winnipeg zone. Clayton Keller collected the puck from a corner pass by Schmaltz. Meanwhile, JJ Peterka (who I mentioned to my wife seconds before the play from the stands was way too high at the blue line and needed to crash) ended up sneaking behind the Jets defense. The back-door pass from Keller to Peterka was perfect, and the young German had a simple tap in past Hellebuyck to double the lead. Hellybuyck to this point has seen 3 Utah shots, and the Mammoth have netted two of them. Good job, kids. 2-0 Utah

The Mammoth again smothered any potential pushback from the Jets, keeping them from getting any shots or pressure at all in response. Nick DeSimone took a somewhat weak interference penalty at 8 and a half minutes to go, after checking his man who chipped the puck past him… but Utah held the Jets shotless and kept the lead at 2.

Under 5 minutes to go, Guenther again had a great chance to score, as he slipped past the defense, but the pass from Crouse was in too tight and Gunner ran out of room and couldn’t convert.

The last 5 minutes saw Utah control the puck and zone time, but realistically had no solid opportunities. The horn would sound with Utah still up after an amazing first period.

Mammoth with 7 shots, Winnipeg with 5 at the break.

SECOND PERIOD:
The teams each tested their opponent early, with Durzi for the Mammoth and Connor and Neal Pionk for the Jets throwing shots on net in the opening 60 seconds.

2 minutes in, Michael Carcone fed Jack McBain a cross-ice pass in front of the net, but McBain went wide. Continued pressure from the third line led to great pressure from the 4th line. Alexander Kerfoot, recently reactivated from the IR, Kevin Stenlund, Sergachev and Durzi had some impressive puck movement laterally. Durzi, spotting Kerfoot at the dot, hit him perfectly, and Kerfoot’s one timer hit twine, as Hellebuyck was unable to move to cover. Utah’s lead was 3, 3 goals on 11 shots on one of the best netminders in the world. Kerfoot’s first of the year. 3-0 Utah

Again, following the goal, Utah shut down any counterattack pressure. While Winnipeg got a pair of shots off, nothing dangerous on net. Utah, meanwhile, had more of a passive approach – skating in the zone but not really pressuring hard.

Winnipeg almost got on the board 5 minutes in after Logan Stanley’s slap shot beat Vejmelka, but it didn’t beat the post – ringing iron and heading out of the zone, keeping the Jets scoreless.

Schmaltz one-upped Stanley, doing a double-doink off the right and left post, but ultimately the puck never crossed the line.

The next 3 minutes were uneventful. Utah and Winnipeg traded zone time, blocked and missed shots, and some physicality. Crouse looked to be boarded – hit directly in the numbers with his back turned, but no call. What was called, however, was Liam O’Brien’s retaliation hit. O’Brien dumped Pionk about 2 seconds before the puck went to him, textbook interference, and a 2 minute time out.

Winnipeg, as I mentioned in the pre-game, has had a hard time scoring on the power play. Utah kept up for about 40 seconds, however Mark Scheifele hir Kyle Connor across the rink for Connor to rip a one-timer past Vejmelka. I mentioned those two names in the pre-game. Wonder why? Anyway, Utah’s PK falters and Winnipeg’s on the board. 3-1 Utah

As with the previous goals, Utah immediately took control and momentum away from Winnipeg. The captain took the puck into the offensive zone, and some give and go with Schmaltz resulted in a little too much give, and not enough go, killing a chance right away.

The period would slow after that, with the next 5 minutes mostly back and forth with no sustained pressure or momentum from either team. Eventually, at 3 minutes to go, Tanner Pearson took an interference penalty against Crouse, putting Utah on their second man-advantage of the game.

Great first shift, with 45 seconds of zone time to start. Guenther’s one timer was saved, Keller’s one timer was over the net, but the line kept getting held by Sergachev and company to continue pressure. The power play ended like the first, with no conversion, and Winnipeg got a few chances with less than a minute to go. Nino Niederreiter had a pair of shots – one from the slot, one from the crease – fail to convert and Utah went to the locker room preserving their 2 goal lead.

Shots in the period – 8 each. Utah held a 15-13 shot advantage after 2.

THIRD PERIOD:
The third period was a bend-but-don’t-break period for Utah. Utah allowed 7 scattered shots through the first 8 minutes of the period. When the Jets set up, Utah would block shots or force everything to the perimeter. At 5 minutes in, Pionk got the best Jets chance of the period, walking in on the right side of Vejmelka and firing a wrist shot that was turned aside.

With 12 minutes to go, Utah had their third and final power play of the game. Tanner Pearson got called for hooking Schmaltz, and the PP would go to work again. The 1st unit on this advantage saw some golden opportunities – Nick Schmaltz ripped a one-timer from the high slot that was stopped by Hellebuyck, and the rebound was kicked aside as Guenther (who fed Schmaltz for his shot) crashed in front. Daniil But, in the second PP unit, tried to emulate his fellow countryman with a one-timer from the dot on the power play, but his shot was turned aside as special teams failed to score again.

The Jets, with about 7 minutes to go, turned on desperation mode. Utah allowed Connor to get in close for a shot that missed, then Gustav Nyquist was left alone at the left post about 15 feet out for a shot Veggie saved.

Less than 5 minutes to go, the Jets would pull within one. A failed pass by Durzi deep in the Mammoth zone led to extended Jets zone time. Kerfoot’s clearing attempt was held in, and Winnipeg just kept pressing the Mammoth’s increasingly tired defenders. Ultimately, a pass from Morrissey to Connor deep in the zone – almost at the boards and below the circle, hit an extremely sharp angle shot to beat Vejmelka top-shelf near side. 3-2 Utah

With a one goal lead Utah looked to stop the Winnipeg momentu… and it’s tied. Schmaltz lost a board battle against Morgan Barron, turning the puck over to Pearson. Schmaltz, then, didn’t cover Barron, who had a clear break on Vejmelka, beating him glove-side for the equalizer. 25 seconds, 2 goal lead evaporates late in the game. Ouch. 3-3 Tied

Both teams pressed but neither had a good scoring chance over the last 4 minutes, and they both appeared to be OK with the guaranteed point. On to bonus hockey.

Shots greatly favored Winnipeg, 13 – 6, for regulation favoring them 26-21.

OVERTIME:
Dylan Guenther rescued a faceoff that was about to be lost, beating out Adam Lowry to the puck. A touch back to Sergachev, Guenther got the puck back, deked out the defense, and raced up the ice with Keller 2 on 1. Keller got the pass, and beat Hellebuyck near side high for the winner. 13 seconds in, Utah with 2 big divisional points. 4-3 Utah

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3 GOALS (THE GOOD):

Captain my Captain Clayton Keller had a hell of a night. Game winning goal, assist on the Peterka goal, +2 for the night. He had immediate chemistry with Dylan Guenther in overtime, and he didn’t hesitate to uncork a very accurate shot.

Keller is an amazing playmaker and a good shooter. He’s a 90 point player that’s been having a down year, though it’s understandable the issues since late November. He’s been heating up lately, with 2 goals and 2 assists in three games now.

He’s still under a point per game pace, a regression from last year for sure, but if he can put strings of games together like he did today – ESPECIALLY if he can put in a goal or 10 on the power play like he did last year, he can help carry this team to the post-season.

Coordinated attack Alexander Kerfoot got on the board with some amazing work from the 4th line. The defense – Durzi and Sergachev specifically – were fantastic, with 3 assists between them. Keller scored and had an assist. Guenther had 2 assists. Peterka scored. Crouse scored.

All in all, scoring from 3 lines and getting points across 9 players against arguably a top 3 goaltender in the league is nothing short of fantastic. With just 22 shots, Utah broke the back of Winnipeg through 2 and a half periods, only allowing a power play goal in the first 50 minutes.

The third line wasn’t on the score sheet tonight, but But, Carcone, and McBain had great chances and pressure – directly leading to the Kerfoot goal. In fact, of all the forwards tonight, I hated the play of 2, disliked the play of 2, and enjoyed the play of 8 others. Defensively, other than Marino at times, I was really happy with the overall play.

Division of Power Utah excels against divisional opponents, winning the series with the Jets after 2 games. With 4 of 4 possible points, Utah put distance between the clubs. Winnipeg, an expected playoff contender, is now 6 points behind Utah with 3 games in hand. Even if they win out, Utah has the tie-breakers against them.

Utah has played every divisional opponent on the road, with just Colorado and now Winnipeg playing at the Delta Center. While they lost on the road to Colorado, they did win at home, beat Winnipeg twice now, and have at least 2 points from everyone other than Chicago and Dallas.

With a ton of home games against the division, look for Utah to step up and bank points against their direct competition to bolster their playoff chances.

3 CHIRPS (THE BAD):

Ovechkin is the Great 8. Nick Schmaltz is the Temu 8. Sometimes he comes through, other times he’s just something that arrived broken and not as described.

Schmaltz blew coverage allowing a tying goal 20 seconds after giving up a previous one. Schmaltz had a give and go, and give, and go, and give… with Keller on a rush. Keller had worse position than Schmaltz, as Schmaltz was in the slot, but he elected to pass three times. Neither player got a quality shot off and killed their chances.

Somehow, Keller plays amazingly when he’s got Guenther, or Peterka, or a healthy Cooley on his lines. When he’s with Schmaltz? It feels like that ex girlfriend you feel obligated to check in on. Keller’s passes focus on Schmaltz to the detriment of their third linemate. Schmaltz’ passes focus on Keller to the detriment of their third linemate.

I don’t know what’s the deal here, but it’s clear that Tourigny likes Schmaltz and Keller, even when the eye test shows that the two of them are out of sync and can’t understand each other at all this year.

Fetch Can we stop trying to make Liam O’Brien happen? He’s not gonna happen.

O’Brien took a stupid and costly penalty to give Winnipeg life. When the 4th line produced their goal, the one player that didn’t touch the puck the entire sequence? O’Brien. Shot attempts? 1. Shots on net? 0. Blocks? 0. Hits? 2. Crouse and McBain combined for 8 on the third line alone.

Brandon Tanev’s been benched for a number of games, because he’s had a rough season. Tanev, however, has a higher upside than O’Brien. Tanev blocks shots. Tanev also can play the PK. It may be worthwhile to give him another short run to see if we can salvage his contract at all.

More importantly, why would either of them be in for Kailer Yamamoto? Yamamoto has 9 points – including 4 goals. Those goals? Not deflections or gimmes either. He’s got as many blocks as O’Brien. He doesn’t have as many hits, though, so perhaps that’s all that matters?

With Kerfoot back, and Kerfoot’s just all around solid play, having him paired with a decent if not great offensive threat could be a huge benefit to him. Putting him together with a guy full of energy that’s been struggling could be a huge benefit to him. Right now? The 4th line is basically playing 5 v 4, and still somehow making due. It’s time to tinker there – I mean, if you’ve broken up the kid line for 2 bad games, when’s a good time to fix a line that has room to improve especially with Kerfoot back?

On your 6 Allowing the Jets a power play goal isn’t the best idea, but let’s face it – NHLers are the best in the business for a reason. These are the best players in the game – Liam O’Brien’s wrister would beat my goaltending 99/100 times. But the thing is, both teams have great players. A power play goal isn’t the end of the world. Giving up a 2 goal lead in 20 seconds almost was.

The Jets were stomped out and down for 50 minutes. When Utah scored, they didn’t allow any counter attack pressure. When momentum inched towards the Jets, Utah’s shot blocking and sticks in lanes prevented them from building on it.

Then, with 5 minutes to go, the Jets from way behind get even. The breakdown on that third goal against was especially atrocious. Winnipeg was expected to give a push, but to give up a breakaway goal because of bad positioning and board play in less than 30 seconds? Unacceptable.

I don’t often quote the announcers, because I want to provide you my own thoughts without having them influenced from outside, but they did touch on a stat tonight. Utah’s record with the first goal in the game is just barely above .500. With the lead, Utah plays fast and loose – and then with the lead late they turtle until they fall apart.

The team needs to figure out how to hold leads – especially late. Even against the best players in the world, your best players can’t constantly fold when in a position of power.

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Next up:

Tuesday in Colorado for the third meeting between the Avs and Mammoth.