Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
PHILADELPHIA — Less than 24 hours prior, the Utah Hockey Club found itself victorious in a dominant 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabers, and were tasked with back-to-back days with a game.
In the second back-to-back series this season, the first coming just a little over week ago when Utah lost to Edmonton and traveled to Vegas to take on the Knights the next day.
But it didn't effect Utah this time.
A goal by Logan Cooley with five minutes left in the second period proved to be the difference maker as the Hockey Club took a 3-2 lead and never looked back en route to a 4-2 win over the Flyers in Philadelphia.
Utah improved to 12-11-4 on the year and moved into fifth place in the central division.
Utah came out with immediate pressure on the Flyers, putting up 12 shots in the first period to the Flyers' seven. While Utah's offense got up multiple shots, Jaxson Stauber shut out the Flyers in the first period, picking up seven saves.
Stauber filled in for Karel Vejmelka, who manned the net Saturday against Buffalo and was given the day off.
After 15 shots by Utah in the first period, the Hockey Club got through as Michael Carcone fired a shot from the right side of the net off the left skate of a Flyers defender, finding the goal for a 1-0 lead.
The lead lasted no more than 20 seconds as Philadelphia quickly got to Utah's side of the ice, with Joel Farabee launching a shot past Stauber, which is the first goal he has allowed this year in his two starts in goal.
The scoring bout continued with Mikhail Sergachev firing a shot from near the blue line to find the back of the net, giving Utah a 2-1 lead over the Flyers with 10 minutes to go in the second period.
The goal by Sergachev moves him into third on the team with eight on the season.
With just over six minutes to go, Flyers' right wing Owen Tippett launched a snap shot underneath Stauber's legs to net the Flyers a second goal of the period.
But the Hockey Club fought back to the lead with four minutes when Dylan Gunther placed a perfect pass to an attacking Cooley, who fired it through to elevate Utah's shot total to 20 through two periods.
Logan Cooley capitalizes on the power play 🔥 pic.twitter.com/utDklphskB
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 9, 2024
Quickly into the third period, the Flyers thought they evened it up off a Jamie Drysdale goal, but Utah challenged that there was called goaltender interference as Flyers' right wing Travis Konency was interfering with Stauber.
Utah's challenge was deemed succesful and the Hockey Club maintained a 3-2 lead.
With four minutes to play, the Flyers errantly left the puck alone during a power play on their defensive end of the ice, allowing Kevin Stenlund a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper where he found the net to elevate Utah to a 4-2 lead.
Stenlund scored for Utah in the game against the Sabers, recording goals in back-to-back games.
BEAUTIFUL SHORTY FROM STENNY! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/4zBo0ZIghy
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 9, 2024
