Utah was certain to lose in some unspecified time in the future within the season. Whereas it took them till the fourth sport of the season to lose their first sport in historical past, it was a gifted New Jersey Devils who shut them out 3-0. Whereas there are issues to study from the loss, the japanese seaboard highway journey will be labeled as successful. Listed here are some takeaways from Monday afternoon’s sport.
Utah HC’s Particular Groups Had been Abysmal
On an entire flip from Saturday’s sport, Utah’s energy play and penalty kill didn’t look nice. It was a sudden change from the incredible-looking particular groups from the sport in opposition to the New York Rangers.
Energy play-wise, the group wasn’t establishing in addition to they’d on Saturday. After all, the Devils’ protection regarded excellent each offensively and defensively. Seamus Casey produced two factors within the win. Nevertheless, not solely did Utah fail to ship the stress that they did on Saturday, however additionally they didn’t get any photographs on Jake Allen in the course of the energy play.
It wasn’t simply the ability play the place the offense was severely missing. Most of Utah’s photographs have been simple saves. The Devils simply outshot Utah 33-20 and regardless of a few probabilities together with early within the first the place Allen barely saved a wrap-around probability from Utah, it wasn’t the group that we’ve seen up to now three video games.
Going again to particular groups, Utah’s penalty kill hampered them as effectively. The protection was poorly positioned on a lot of the energy play alternatives which allowed the Devils to manage and dominate the sport. Two of the three Devils’ targets got here on the ability play together with Nico Hischier’s third-period objective that you could possibly see coming from a mile away.
The clear drawback was the quantity of penalties Utah took. The Devils had seven energy play alternatives. In the event you look via the penalties, there are some careless ones. One which stands out is the bench minor for too many males on the ice. Followers who’ve been following this group for some time understand it’s a standard penalty for them to take. It’s been one of many solely criticisms to date in head coach Andre Tourigny’s profession however it’s one thing that must be mounted.
One in every of Utah’s flaws to date this season is their abundance of penalties. They’re at present probably the most penalized groups within the league and it could possibly be an enormous weak spot going ahead. After all, the penalty kill wants to enhance however the principle factor that should occur is lowering the quantity of careless penalties the group is taking. Shifting ahead to the subsequent sport, it’s one thing Utah wants to handle to be the very best group they are often.
Karel Vejmelka Regarded Good in Season Debut
Though not a whole lot of gamers had an awesome sport in opposition to the Devils, Karel Vejmelka regarded stellar. After Connor Ingram began the primary three video games for Utah, Vejmelka made his season debut on Monday. The Czech goaltender made 30 saves in opposition to a extremely gifted Devils group.
Regardless of getting the loss, Vejmelka posted a .909 save share and helped kill off 5 of the seven Devils energy performs. It was an excellent signal for the goaltender who struggled at factors final season which ultimately led to Ingram getting the starter’s place close to the top of the season.
If Vejmelka can play on the degree he did on Monday for the remainder of the season, Utah might have a two-headed monster in web this 12 months. Ingram, like Vejmelka, has regarded nice to date this season. Paired with an improved protection, particularly when John Marino returns from harm, scoring in opposition to Utah could possibly be a tough job for opponents this season.
Respectable Street Journey so Far
Regardless of the loss in opposition to the Devils, it’s been a superb begin for Utah this season. A 3-1-0 begin isn’t unhealthy in any respect, particularly when you think about the three most up-to-date video games have been in opposition to opponents who’ve made the playoffs up to now two seasons. Evaluating final season’s japanese seaboard highway journey, the group managed to get another win than final season’s group.
Whereas there have been some points which have arisen over the previous 4 video games together with a possible Sean Durzi harm which could possibly be regarding, the group has regarded good and a whole lot of the gamers are having profession begins together with the NHL’s First Star of the Week Dylan Guenther and Barrett Hayton. Nevertheless, there are 79 video games left within the season to attempt to win. Whereas the highway journey has been successful to date, Utah will shortly look to their subsequent set of video games to attempt to get an early lead within the Central Division.
Yet another sport stays on the highway journey as Utah travels to the opposite aspect of the nation to play the Anaheim Geese on Wednesday. The Geese are 1-1-0 to date this season and are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
