Utah picked up a 7-3 win over the Predators
NASHVILLE – In the penultimate game of the 2024-25 season, Utah Hockey Club picked up a 7-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Utah had nine players on the scoresheet and in his 500th NHL game, Captain Clayton Keller had two goals and a pair of assists. In addition to Keller, Michael Kesselring, Nick Bjugstad, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, and Kevin Stenlund scored in the win. Ryan O’Reilly (PPG), Luke Evangelista, and Michael Bunting had Nashville’s goals.
Matt Villalta, in his Utah debut, stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced. It was Villalta’s first career win. The win was Utah’s first victory against the Predators this season and the team has won four of their last five games.
Utah’s penalty kill went to work in the first five minutes of the game. After Kevin Stenlund went to the box for a slashing penalty, Barrett Hayton was assessed a tripping penalty just 21 seconds later. Utah’s penalty killers and goaltender Matt Villalta came up big when the team was down 5-on-3. Utah killed off the initial penalty; however, with one second left on the second penalty, Ryan O’Reilly’s shot beat Utah’s netminder and gave Nashville a 1-0 lead.
Michael Kesselring tied the game 1-1 with seven and a half minutes to play in the first period. By skating to the pass from his d-partner Ian Cole, instead of waiting, Kesselring slipped his coverage, skated in, and scored his seventh of the season. Cole and Alexander Kerfoot picked up assists on the goal. Utah took a 2-1 lead late in the first period when Nick Bjugstad’s shot through traffic found the back of the net. The goal was Bjugstad’s third goal in his last five games. Kerfoot picked up his second helper of the night while Kevin Stenlund also was credited with an assist on the goal.
Seconds after the go-ahead goal, Logan Cooley was elbowed by Michael McCarron and Utah went on their first power play of the game. Cooley went down the tunnel to the locker room; however, he returned for the second period. Wasting no time, Cooley scored three minutes into the middle frame to increase Utah’s lead to 3-1. The goal was challenged for goaltender interference, but the score remained, and Utah went on the power play for Nashville’s failed challenge.
50 seconds into the power play, Brady Skjei tripped Clayton Keller. As a result, Utah had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:10. 20 seconds later, Nick Schmaltz scored his 20th of the season and increased Utah’s lead to 4-1. Right as time expired, Dylan Guenther was hooked driving to the net, and Utah went right back on the power play. Utah did not score on their fourth power play of the game.
Nashville pushed back in the second half of the second period with a pair of goals just 3:19 apart. Luke Evangelista capitalized on a rebound to make it 4-2 Utah just past the halfway point of the period. Minutes later, after Villalta stopped a shot from the blue line, Bunting tapped in the rebound and cut Utah’s lead to 4-3. After an ice problem couldn’t be solved quickly, the officials started the second intermission early. Following the 18 minute break, the teams played the final 3:44 of the middle frame, had their goaltenders switch sides, and started the third period immediately.
12 minutes into the third period, Keller’s 28th goal of the season increased Utah’s lead to 5-3. After his pass attempt was broken up by two Nashville players, Keller regained possession down low, shot, and scored. Keller’s empty net goal in the final two minutes of the game increased the lead to 6-3. Less than a minute later, Kevin Stenlund’s goal was the final of the night.
Utah has picked up a point in their last five contests, improving to 38-30-13 (89 points) with one game left in the 2024-25 campaign.
Other Notes from Tonight’s Game:
When it comes to finding goals in tight games, Utah’s defensemen have stepped up. With Kesselring’s first period goal against Nashville, the team’s blueliners have contributed goals in three of Utah’s last four games. Mikhail Sergachev (vs. SEA, 4/8) and Sean Durzi (at DAL, 4/12) also scored during this stretch.
A couple of players set new career-highs during tonight’s game. Captain Clayton Keller’s two assists against Nashville brought him up to 87 points this season. He also reached the 60-assist mark for the first time in his career (per Utah PR). Schmaltz hit the 20-goal mark with his power play tally in the second period. It’s the fourth-straight season in which Schmaltz has lit the lamp 20 or more times. Schmaltz’s goal helped the forward reach a new career-high with 62 points (20G, 43A).
Utah’s power play continues to deliver in recent games. The team has 11 power play goals in Utah’s last six games (4/3-4/14, 11-for-22) (per Utah PR). Schmaltz’s power play goal in the second period was his ninth this season. He is one power play goal back from his career-high of 10 power play goals that he set last season.
What’s Next?
Utah’s final game of the 2024-25 season is Tuesday night in St. Louis against the Blues. You can watch on SEG+, UtahHC+, or Utah 16. You can listen on KSL Sports Zone 97.5 FM or the NHL App.
