After enjoying on Tuesday night time in opposition to the San Jose Sharks, it was a fast turnaround for the Utah Hockey Membership as they flew down south to play the Anaheim Geese. Sadly for them, it was an enormous recreation for the Geese’ youth as they handed Utah their second lack of the preseason. Regardless of the loss, it was a superb night time for a number of gamers on each groups. Listed below are some takeaways from Utah’s 5-2 loss on Wednesday night time.
Lukas Dostal Continues Dominant Preseason
The most effective participant of the sport by far was Lukas Dostal for the Geese. The younger Czech goaltender has been a prospect many followers have been trying ahead to. He was among the finest rookie goaltenders final season with the crew. To this point within the preseason, Dostal has been among the finest goalies and Wednesday night time’s recreation proved it.
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Dostal made glove save after glove save, not letting a few of Utah’s finest scorers have any likelihood at scoring. On the finish of the day, the goaltender made 35 saves off of 37 pictures, ending the sport with a .946 save share. He additionally stopped each Utah participant within the non-compulsory shootout after the sport.
Dostal will most definitely be the beginning goaltender for the Geese to start the season as a result of John Gibson being out as a result of an appendectomy surgical procedure. It is going to be an enormous step for him if he can retain his preseason type into the common season. He’s one of many many younger gamers for the crew who might want to give it their all if the Geese need any likelihood of being considerably aggressive this season.
Kailer Yamamoto Continues Sizzling Hand
In lower than 48 hours, Kailer Yamamoto has not simply confirmed he belongs within the NHL but additionally on Utah’s roster. After the Geese scored the primary aim of the sport, Josh Doan took a shot from the blue line that Yamamoto then tipped from close to the left faceoff circle. The puck soared into the web giving Utah their first aim.
The aim was Yamamoto’s third of the preseason. He has slot in effectively with each line mixture head coach Andre Tourigny and the Utah teaching employees has positioned him on. He’s performed in nearly each single preseason recreation as effectively and has had an impression in most of these video games. Yamamoto has proven he deserves an NHL contract.
The query is the place does he slot in on Utah’s roster? Gamers like Michael Carcone and Matias Maccelli are higher than him and will probably be on the opening night time roster. Kevin Stenlund will most definitely be a fixture as the middle on the fourth line. The opposite choice is scratching Josh Doan however you’d desire a rookie to play video games to develop fairly than sit within the press field.
Doan has additionally completed sufficient to command a spot on an NHL roster. Much like Yamamoto, he’s made an impression in nearly each single preseason recreation he’s appeared in. Most definitely, the 2017 first-round choose does get a contract from Utah however it’s exhausting to say he’ll be within the opening night time lineup. It’s additionally exhausting to say he’ll be the primary man up when accidents hit the crew. When Nick Bjugstad comes again, he’ll push somebody out of the lineup and that participant will most definitely be the primary one again in. Then there’s additionally Liam O’Brien who’s a favourite throughout the Utah group which helps him be above Yamamoto on the depth chart.
Both method, Doan and Yamamoto ought to seem within the NHL this season. Each have been among the finest gamers for Utah this preseason. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how the depth pans out after the ultimate couple of roster cuts for the crew.
Anaheim’s Youth Out Duels Utah’s
There’s no query which crew’s rookies have been higher in Wednesday’s recreation. The Geese iced a few of their high prospects and younger gamers that made a huge impact on the sport. Leo Carlsson was the massive one as he scored three factors together with aiding on the eventual game-winning aim. For his efforts, he was named the primary star of the sport. Carlsson is looking for to have a bounce-back yr after being injured for a good portion of final season.
Cutter Gauthier is one other rookie for the Geese who had an enormous position within the win. He scored the game-winning aim. Maybe the highest prospect for the crew going into this season, Gauthier appeared in a single recreation with the Geese final season after being traded by the Philadelphia Flyers. Within the recreation, he scored his first NHL level by way of an help. Now, he’s looking for to proceed his growth by securing a everlasting NHL roster spot in Southern California.
Jackson LaCombe and Dostal have been the 2 different younger gamers for the Geese who contributed to the 5-2 win. Followers of the crew ought to be excited for the upcoming season. Whereas the Geese received’t problem for a playoff spot, quite a lot of their crew will probably be made up of rookies who will probably be a big a part of the long run. Apart from the aforementioned gamers, Pavel Mintyukov, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry, Isac Lundestrom, Trevor Zegras, and Olen Zellweger will even make up components of the roster.
With the loss, Utah falls to 4-2-0 within the preseason. With lower than every week remaining earlier than their first common season recreation in franchise historical past, the crew solely has another preseason recreation remaining earlier than making choices on who will make the opening night time roster. Their remaining preseason recreation is on Saturday, in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche. The sport will probably be performed at Maverik Middle: dwelling of the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. The Avalanche have nonetheless not received a recreation within the preseason, presently sporting a report of 0-4-0. The 2 performed a preseason recreation earlier this week the place Utah received 6-3.