SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club clinched their fifth victory out of their last seven games, rallying to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Tuesday night, thanks to Lawson Crouse’s tiebreaking goal with just 7:48 remaining. It was their third consecutive win on home ice, marking the first time this season they have achieved such success.
Clayton Keller, who has been instrumental for Utah, scored their first goal late in the second period, and goalie Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves to help secure the win. Keller now leads the team with 33 points amassed over just 29 home games, highlighting his pivotal role this season. For the Blackhawks, Seth Jones scored early but the team has seen little success lately, as they’ve lost four straight games and seven of their last eight (1-5-2).
The match started with Jones netting the first power play goal for Chicago at 6:26 of the first period, bringing some hope to the Blackhawks. While Utah struggled initially with only eight shots on goal during the first frame, Keller's determination shone through as he managed to equalize the score with just 44 seconds left to play before the second intermission.
The turning point came when Crouse’s finesse gave Utah their first lead of the game, skating adeptly to execute the backhand shot, sealing the fate of the Blackhawks, particularly after Chicago had failed to convert on their five power play opportunities against the team ranked 10th league-wide at 80.8 percent.
Utah's ability to shift the momentum late in the game stood out, wrapping up with 28 shots over the final two periods compared to Chicago’s inconsistent performance. Now, Chicago prepares for their next matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, hoping to turn their fortune around.
Meanwhile, another game took place concurrently as the Detroit Red Wings fought hard to earn a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Simon Edvinsson showcased his clinching goal when he pinged a slap shot off the far post with just 8:25 remaining, capping off the Red Wings’ ambitious comeback against the Wild.
Detroit entered the game on quite the streak, having gone 9-1-2 over their last 12 matchups, including five consecutive wins on the road. The Red Wings, boosted by Cam Talbot’s solid performance with 22 saves, capitalized on Minnesota’s early lead, created by goals from Marco Rossi and Jakob Lauko during the first period.
Vladimir Tarasenko cut the deficit midway through the second period, igniting the Red Wings’ rally and setting the stage for Edvinsson’s later heroics. Despite being without key centers Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen, Detroit’s resilience was on full display—showing their determination to return to the playoffs for the first time after nine years.
Every aspect of the game was competitive, especially after Minnesota managed to extinguish Detroit’s second-ranked power play before Tarasenko found the net for his eighth goal of the season. This moment punctuated the effort of the Red Wings, who have steadily climbed the rankings.
For Minnesota, the loss brings concerns, particularly with key injuries affecting their roster. Having registered the most road wins this season, they now need to improve their home record as they look to stave off setbacks. The impressive performance by Matt Boldy—with assists landing him among the few Wild players to score three 30-assist seasons by the age of 23—does provide some silver lining amid the challenges.
Looking forward, the Red Wings will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, and the Wild plan to visit Utah for their next challenge. Both teams will hopefully capitalize on their upcoming matches to solidify their standing and momentum as the season progresses.