Utah HC inaugural game blog: Utah opens first season with win over Chicago

By KSL Sports | Updated - Oct. 8, 2024 at 10:28 p.m. | Posted - Oct. 8, 2024 at 2:11 p.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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SALT LAKE CITY — The NHL is here in Utah.

The Utah Hockey Club will play its inaugural game on Tuesday at 8 p.m. MDT against the Chicago Blackhawks.

There will be a game inside the Delta Center and a party outside it. The Delta Center plaza will be home to fan festivities, including games, a concert and a live broadcast from ESPN.

Tuesday, 11:48 pm

Utah wins inaugural games 5-2

Dylan Guenther did it once, and then did it twice as nice as the Utah Hockey Club celebrated its franchise opener Tuesday night with a win.Guenther scored two goals, including the first goal in franchise history, as the Utah Hockey Club held off the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in the inaugural season opener Tuesday night at Delta Center.With the win, the Hockey Club (1-0) became the eighth team in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68) to win their inaugural game, but only the second in the past 30 years after the Vegas Golden Knights won Game 1 to start the 2017-18 season.Less than five minutes into the opener, Guenther made history for Utah — officially an expansion franchise that inherited the hockey assets of the presently defunct Arizona Coyotes during a whirlwind offseason.The former No. 9 overall draft pick in 2021 from Edmonton, Alberta, took a pass from Michael Kesselring and one-timed the biscuit past Chicago goalkeeper Petr Mrazek that set off wild celebrations among the standing room-only crowd at the Delta Center — and thousands more watching outside the arena at a Smith Entertainment Group-hosted watch party.The beginning of Guenther's eight-year contract worth nearly $50 million paid off with a spot in the record books, knotting the third-fastest goal to start a franchise's inaugural season since 1967-68, and the fastest since Tampa's Chris Kontos scored in 4:43 in 1992.Clayton Keller doubled the advantage just under 10 minutes later, converting a turnover near center ice into a backhanded shot from Nick Schmaltz down the middle of the chute as the Hockey Club out-shot the Blackhawks 6-1 en route to a 2-0 first-period lead.Barrett Hayton pinged the net with a tipped shot from Mikahil Sergachev midway through the second period.Buoyed by a sensational performance by Connor Ingram in goal, Utah held the Blackhawks (0-1) scoreless until Teuvo Teravainen finished off a backhand shot with a man-up from Connor Bedard with just over six minutes left in the second period en route to a 3-1 advantage before the third period.The Hawks were 2-1-1 in franchise openers since 1979 for a reason.One of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises came to play, not just to observe when Alex Vlasic pulled another back 4:46 into the final period, tipping home Seth Jones' attempt from the close to the blue line to finish off Bedard's second assist of the night.But Ingram made 26 saves, and Guenther scored his second on an empty net with 44 seconds remaining to help the Hockey Club hold on before Lawson Crouse finished off the scoring in the final seconds."It was a great crowd, and a very lively building," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "That goes with the first period that they had; they fed off the crowd, but the crowd got lots to cheer about. Unfortunately for us, we're excited to be here and to play in Utah. But we're looking forward to coming back and putting on a better show next time."

Tuesday, 10:25 pm

Chicago pulls within 1 in 3rd period

Chicago is trying to ruin the party at the Delta Center.Alex Vlasic pulled Chicago within one, 3-2, with plenty of time left in the third period. Chicago has been the better team since Utah's eclectic first period.Utah allowed just one shot on goal in the first period; the Blackhawks now have 17 with 14 minutes remaining.

Vlasic makes it a one goal game 👀 pic.twitter.com/6R08GTW18J

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024

Tuesday, 09:51 pm

Utah has its first fight as Chicago pulls one back

Some opening-game luck finally ran out with 5:33 left in the second period. Chicago had been oh-so-close to lighting the lamp multiple times in the period — including a few shots off the pipe.They finally got one when Connor Bedard set up Teuvo Teravainen to cut Utah's lead to 3-1.

Connor Bedard sets up Teuvo Teravainen for Chicago's first goal of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/GvNvW9lfwu

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 9, 2024

WE GOT THE FIRST FIGHT IN UTAH HC HISTORY pic.twitter.com/v1psHTM7vv

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024

Tuesday, 09:38 pm

Dream debut continues as Hayton puts Utah up 3-0

Mikhail Sergachev fired a rocket from the blue line. Barrett Hayton made sure it went in.Hayton deflected Sergachev's shot into the goal to give Utah a 3-0 lead in the second period.Making it even more fun: The goal came just as a "Spicy Tuna" chant was reaching a crescendo. It's been a dream start for Utah HC.

Barrett Hayton gets a piece of the Mikhail Sergachev point shot, and Utah takes a 3-0 lead! 🚨

📺: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/bcEPqoyr4C

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2024

Tuesday, 08:51 pm

Clayton Keller puts Utah up 2-0

Clayton Keller scored his first goal as captain of the Utah Hockey Club and put the home team up 2-0 in the process.Keller rebounded a semi-whiffed shot in front of the goal and pushed it in for the score. It was a broken play that started after Utah did a nice job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone to give the team a chance at the quick strike.

Captain Keller gets another for Utah 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3i9Ou2HplI

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024

Tuesday, 08:30 pm

Dylan Guenther scores first Utah Hockey Club goal

It didn't take long for Dylan Guenther to justify his long-tern extension; and it didn't take long for Utah to get on the board.Less than five minutes into the game, Guenther blasted a one-timer past Chicago goalie Petr Mrázek to score the first goal in franchise history.Logan Cooley sped up the ice and passed to Michael Kesselring, who teed up Guenther for the history blast.

DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES THE FIRST REGULAR SEASON GOAL IN UTAH HC HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1jz2TRK0fF

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024

Tuesday, 01:47 pm

NHL commissioner expresses confidence in Utah market

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman doesn't think Utah is a novice hockey market — at least not as much of one as people have let on."There's been professional hockey, not at the NHL level, in Salt Lake City, going back 50 years," he said.That much is true.The Salt Lake Golden Eagles regularly drew large crowds at the old Salt Palace in the 1980s. Ironically, it was moving to the Delta Center — where the sightlines are rough — that helped push them out of Utah. That same arena, warts and all, has now helped get an NHL team to Utah. Funny how life works."Secondly, this is a place that's known for winter sports, and that includes us," Bettman said. "I believe there's a natural base of hockey fans, and I believe there are a lot of sports fans, once they get a chance to see our game at the NHL level are going to fall in love with it."

Tuesday, 01:15 pm

What does Utah HC's coach expect from tonight?

Utah Hockey Club coach Andre Tourigny has coached teams to World Junior Championships and U-18 championships, and he's won coach of the year in multiple leagues. In short, he's coached in big games before.How does Tuesday's opener compare?"Normally, when you coach that big of a game, it's not the first game of the year," he said. "It's at the end of a tournament of the season, or something like that, where you know exactly how it will happen. You know exactly what the opponent will do, you know exactly what your team will do, you just need to play the game. And this one is a little bit more a lot of unknown."The Blackhawks have plenty of new faces, and their preseason games didn't show much. There's a bit of a mystery there.But he does know one thing: He's going to take a moment to soak it all in."This is unique. This is special," he said. "I'm not saying I'm not looking forward to Game 12 of the year, where everything is behind us, but I think this is a super cool moment."

Tuesday, 01:00 pm

Logan Cooley has never been more excited to play a game

Logan Cooley played in an NCAA championship game and made his NHL debut last season, but Tuesday might top both those games — and every other one."This is probably the most excited I've ever been to play a hockey game," the second-year forward said. "The excitement level, it's something that I haven't experienced before. So I'm really looking forward to getting out there, seeing the fans and having a good night."He said it almost feels like it's the postseason — or at least what he imagines it's like to be in the postseason."You go out there, see the towels, there's media all over the place," Cooley said. "I've never been in a playoff game, it almost feels like what that would kind of be like."

Tuesday, 12:43 pm

The Delta Center is all dressed up

Utah Hockey Players got a taste of what things will look like during morning skate on Tuesday.White rally towels and black shirts had been placed on each seat of the Delta Center as the players skated onto the ice.That moment alone was chill-inducing."It looks great with all the towels and the seats and stuff, and it gives it a cool feel," Clayton Keller said. "I'm sure the crowd will be packed and it'll be super loud."

The Delta Center is all dressed up pic.twitter.com/xg5k4hHFEa

— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) October 8, 2024

Utah HC inaugural game blog: Utah opens first season with win over Chicago

By KSL Sports | Updated - Oct. 8, 2024 at 10:28 p.m. | Posted - Oct. 8, 2024 at 2:11 p.m.

Utah wins inaugural games 5-2

Chicago pulls within 1 in 3rd period

Utah has its first fight as Chicago pulls one back

Dream debut continues as Hayton puts Utah up 3-0

Clayton Keller puts Utah up 2-0

Dylan Guenther scores first Utah Hockey Club goal

NHL commissioner expresses confidence in Utah market

What does Utah HC's coach expect from tonight?

Logan Cooley has never been more excited to play a game

The Delta Center is all dressed up

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Utah HC inaugural game blog: Utah opens first season with win over Chicago

By KSL Sports | Updated - Oct. 8, 2024 at 10:28 p.m. | Posted - Oct. 8, 2024 at 2:11 p.m.

Utah wins inaugural games 5-2

Chicago pulls within 1 in 3rd period

Utah has its first fight as Chicago pulls one back

Dream debut continues as Hayton puts Utah up 3-0

Clayton Keller puts Utah up 2-0

Dylan Guenther scores first Utah Hockey Club goal

NHL commissioner expresses confidence in Utah market

What does Utah HC's coach expect from tonight?

Logan Cooley has never been more excited to play a game

The Delta Center is all dressed up

Most recent Mammoth stories

Markstrom stifles Mammoth as Devils defeat Utah 4-1

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller makes Team USA's Olympic roster

Guenther's first career hat trick helps Mammoth race past Islanders

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Markstrom stifles Mammoth as Devils defeat Utah 4-1

SLC Puck podcast: Utah makes OT winner more exciting than necessary

Guenther scores in OT to complete Mammoth's 5-4 comeback win over reeling Penguins

SPORTS NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

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