Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, and Kevin Stenlund each had a goal and an assist as the Utah Hockey Club defeated the visiting Winnipeg Jets 4-1 on Saturday night.
Nick Bjugstad also scored for Utah, while Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Olli Maatta provided assists. Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka made 32 saves.
In the net for Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots.
Utah (35-30-12, 82 points) opened the scoring on the power play, with Keller finishing off a quick opportunity by sliding the puck into the net just seven seconds into the man advantage. The goal came at 4:24 in the first period, giving Utah a 1-0 lead.
The Utah Hockey Club struck again on the power play just 57 seconds into the second period. The puck deflected off Hayton’s skate just outside the crease, and he quickly gathered it and batted it into the net to extend Utah’s lead to 2-0. Keller earned the assist, marking his 500th career point.
Utah continued to dominate, pushing their lead to 3-0 when Stenlund ripped a powerful shot from the top of the circle that hit the crossbar and went in. The goal came with 3:03 left in the second period.
Mark Scheifele scored Winnipeg’s only goal, unassisted, wiring a shot into the open net off a long rebound following several power play chances for the Jets at 2:45 into the third period. It was Scheifele’s 800th point in his 14th NHL season.
Winnipeg (52-21-4, 108 points) pushed hard in the third period, outshooting Utah 14-6, but they couldn’t beat Vejmelka for that second goal.
Bjugstad sealed the victory for Utah, scoring an empty-net goal to make it 4-1 with 2:31 left in regulation.
Forward Nikolaj Ehlers was a game-time decision for Winnipeg and did not play.
–Field Level Media
