The Utah Hockey Club fell at home 4-0 to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night. The Senators scored all four goals within the first period of play despite the Utah Hockey Club out shooting Ottawa 31-23 in the game. The Hockey Club falls to 4-2-1 (2-1-0 at home) on the season while Ottawa jumps to 4-2-0 on the season.
“That was a good drop off I think in our focus. I think we obviously came out strong, playing well, but we didn’t stay in the moment.” Utah Hockey Club Head Coach André Tourigny said postgame. “We got carried away, a little bit soft, defensively, forced a play turnover, you know, and just we had them where we wanted. We played well. We just need to stay patient, stay humble, go one shift at a time, and we got ahead of ourselves and we paid for it.”
Connor Ingram got the start in net for Utah but was promptly pulled after allowing four goals in the first period. Karel Vejmelka provided the only bright spot for the club Tuesday night after replacing Ingram in net. Vejmelka finished with 14 saves on 14 shots from Ottawa in the final two periods.
Tourigny commented on the difficulty of the decision to pull Ingram after the first period, stating that the team needed a change in momentum “It’s not any different than the other player. I don’t think you want that. I don’t think you’re looking for that. I don’t wish that on any of our players but it’s just everybody in life has bad days at the office sometimes. And I think when you’re a goldender, you’re exposed more than anybody else. So I think you need to make the right decision for the team. It’s nothing personal.”
4 goals on 8 shots for Ottawa at the Delta Center tonight.
Utah has been lazy in the defensive zone tonight and has looked lost at times.
This is where the Durzi injury really starts to really hurt you as a team. #UtahHC
— Brice Larson (@LarsonSports) October 23, 2024
Following the loss of defenseman Sean Durzi earlier this season, Utah has looked to Micheal Kesselring & others to fill the void on the blue line. Kesselring was the hero Saturday night with a late goal against the Bruins, but the loss of Durzi proved pivotal in the defensive zone Tuesday at the Delta Center. The lack of pressure on the puck turned into four early goals for the visitors that ended up being the difference.
Utah will have to regroup quickly with just one night off before hitting the ice again on Thursday to welcome in the Colorado Avalanche in a big Central Division matchup.
Morning Skate Sound
