Utah HC: Inconsistent play will hinder team's success in playoffs – Hockey Writer – Utah Hockey Club
Utah Hockey Club (17-15-7) is 39 games into its first NHL season and is four points away from a wild-card spot. At the same point last season, the Arizona Coyotes held a 20-17-2 record. While Utah is about to enter the second half of its season, head coach André Tourigny's team must find a way to keep the team going if they want to continue playing until mid-April 2025. A solid 60 minutes every night. So, let’s take a look at the factors contributing to Utah’s inconsistent performance.
Similarities Between Utah and Arizona Seasons
The 2023-24 Coyotes have had a roller-coaster season: Whether it was a 14-game losing streak, consecutive sweeps of the past five Stanley Cup championship teams, or dealing with relocation rumors (which ultimately came true), Arizona finished the season with just the No. seven. Here's what happens when two teams have similar metrics:
- power play percentage
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: 21.99% (15th in NHL)
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: 22.22% (16th in NHL)
- Longest winning streak
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: Five games
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: Four games
- winning streak
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: 10 consecutive wins (82 games in season)
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: Three straight wins (39 games)
- losing streak
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: 10 consecutive wins (82 games in season)
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: Five straight wins (39 games)
- Average Target Profit for Regulatory Loss
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: 2.46 goals against (41 game pace)
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: 2.53 goals against (15 game pace)
- victory
- 2023-24 Arizona Coyotes: 36 wins (82 games)
- 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club: 35.7 wins (82 game pace)
As you can see, there are several connections between last season and this season. Utah's special teams ranks in the middle of the pack, a slight improvement from last season, while Arizona ranks 25th in free throw percentage.
Injuries are one of the factors leading to instability in the game
It’s no secret that injuries have hurt the Jazz’s defensive core this season. Blue liners Sean Durzi, John Marino, Roberto Bortuzzo and Maverick Lamoureux are all on injured reserve. Additionally, all of these players are right-handed, forcing defenders Olimata and Vladislav Kolyachonok to play on the right side as left-handed players. They struggle to create shooting lanes from the point of possession when offside, and they struggle to get the puck away with their backhand under pressure.
On January 5, Utah general manager Bill Armstrong claimed guard Nick DeSimone off waivers from the New Jersey Devils. DeSimone, 30, has appeared in 11 games this season, joining guard Michael Kesselring as the only two active right-handed defensemen.
While Utah acquired Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the offseason, Durzi's presence will be missed. The 26-year-old had two assists in four games before needing right shoulder surgery in late October. The 6-foot, 195-pounder set career highs in assists (32) and points (41) for the Coyotes last season. While Sergachev has been the quarterback for Utah's top powerhouse all season, Durzi is a standout second-team offensive defenseman.
Lamoureu and Bortuzzo are the two latest players to be added to the injured reserve list. As a result, fans may be wondering when Durzi and Marino will return to the lineup this season. In late October, Durze's expected payback period was four to six months. However, on January 6, the Canadian was seen doing some individual training on the ice and did not participate in the team's training.
“He's been skating for a few weeks. But he needs to be stopped a little bit,” Turini said of Dulzi's progress in his recovery from injury.
Marino is closer to returning than Dulzi. The 27-year-old, who was acquired by the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL Draft, underwent lower back surgery in October. The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder scored more than 24 points for the third time last season.
While both players are expected to return this season, Armstrong provided the pair's expected returns:
The last time general manager Bill Armstrong briefed me (last week), these were the return schedules:
— John Marino: February 1.
— Sean Durzi: Season is over
— Connor Ingram: Still no timetable https://t.co/i1v0WsSUvB— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) December 24, 2024
Another factor in Utah's unpredictable play this season is the team's third line of forwards Mathias Marcelli, Nik Bjugstad and Lawson Krause. All three are on career lows. As a result, Turini disbanded the trio and brought Liam O'Brien back into the third line. Here’s a look at Utah’s forward line over the past two games:
Clayton Keller — Barrett Hayton — Nick Schmaltz
Jack McBain – Logan Cooley – Dylan Gunther
Liam O'Brien – Nick Burgstad – Lawson Krause
Michael Carcone/Matthias Marcelli—Kevin Stenlund—Alex Kerfoot
O'Brien's return sparked a pair of goals from the newly formed third unit against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 2, with Krause scoring his first two goals since Nov. 29. The ball helped the team win 5-3. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder has suited up in Utah's last three games and this was his first since Oct. 28.
“We're all big guys,” O'Brien said of the series' 637-pound total weight. “We love being involved in pre-screening. We've been playing a simple game, but it's been effective. They've played really well and I'm happy to see them have some success.
RELATED: Analysis of Utah HC's underperforming third line
The final pillar of the team's struggle is finding a goaltender who can be a starter for the entire season. Last season saw the rise of goaltender Connor Ingram (his six shutouts were tied for the league's best), and his season ended with him being named the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner. This season, the 27-year-old has a 3.61 goals against average (GAA) and a 0.871 save percentage (SV%), the worst in the league – 10.7 goals fewer than expected (GSAx).
Goalkeeper Karel Vermelka, on the other hand, looks to have earned his starting spot. The Czech netminder has a 2.45 GAA, 0.914 SV% and +12 GSAx (seventh in the NHL). With the core of Utah's defense in flux, Vermelka holds the unit together while the team awaits the returns of Durzi, Marino and Ingram.
Utah State will continue its efforts with 43 games remaining in the regular season. It all starts on Jan. 8 at Amelante Bank Arena in Sunrise City against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
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