Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Connor Ingram returned to Utah HC after his mother's passing, making 30 saves.
- Despite Ingram's strong performance, Utah lost 2-1 to the New York Islanders.
- Teammates and coach expressed support for Ingram, praising his resilience and return.
SALT LAKE CITY — Connor Ingram skated out onto the Delta Center ice on Saturday for his first game in nearly two months, and was greeted by the roar of the crowd.
He was officially back.
Near the end of November, Ingram could sense the worst was coming. His mother, Joni, had grown "really sick," as he put it, and he wanted to be by her side. He asked for time off from the club to be with her and his family. And in early December, the worst came: his mother passed away.
"I took time off to grieve," he told reporters on Friday. "I wasn't handling it well, so that's why I was gone. There wasn't really much to put back together. It was just coming back and putting myself back in game shape."
If Saturday's game is any indication, he is back and then some. Ingram made 30 saves, and even took a shutout into the final period; however, it wasn't a picture-perfect return for him and his team.
Utah couldn't generate enough offense, and the New York Islanders came back to win 2-1 Saturday at the Delta Center.
"It was awesome to see (him back)," said Nick Schmaltz, who scored Utah's lone goal in the second period to give The Club a 1-0 lead. "Obviously, terrible news that he was dealing with. So we were supporting him the whole time, giving him as much time as he needs. It's a terrible tragedy. … He's a great guy. And he deserved to win tonight the way he played."
And that was clear from the beginning.
Early on, he robbed New York's Maxim Tsyplakov on a clean one-on-one breakaway, which was part of a frenzied first period where New York got 14 shots on goal. Ingram stopped them all.
"It definitely helps," Ingram said of the first period. "Anytime you can get a good start it's huge in anything. So, I mean, it's not what I planned for it, but it worked out."
At least until the end.
The Islanders scored twice in the third period — including a rebound goal with 1:25 left after Ingram had made two saves — to beat the Hockey Club at the end.
Even with the defeat, though, his team was happy to see him back between the pipes.
"We're so happy to have him around and have him back," head coach André Tourigny said. "I think it's important for us to be one team and to be supportive, and to be there for each other. So really happy about having him back."
The team just wished it could have provided some more goal support for him. Utah was facing a goalie in Marcus Hogberg who was making his second start of the season, and one who is on an NHL team for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Yet, Utah only managed one goal.
"A lot of good intention from our players," Tourigny said. "They tried to do a lot. And, again, less is more."
Utah only had 22 shots on goal and missed the frame on multiple quality chances. Clayton Keller, Schmaltz and Logan Cooley all had clean looks but weren't able to test Hogberg. That left Utah susceptible to some puck luck down the stretch, and Mathew Barzal took advantage when he scored the game-winner, spoiling Ingram's return.
But not his resolve.
"I can't ask for everything else. Guys have been great, team has been great, management's been great. I've got no complaints," he said. "It's been a long time off, so good to be back and it's good to play again. Hopefully, it just gets better from here."
