Although both teams met at Ball Arena just over a week ago, it was time for a rematch between central division foes Colorado Avalanche and Utah Mammoth. Another energetic game full of momentum shifts and overturned
goals erupted which needed an extra frame to settle. Utah grabbed the win in this contest by a 4-3 final score on an overtime goal by Dylan Guenther.
The Game
It was a much more back-and-forth affair to start this game than the Avalanche have been used to as of late but they found a way to get on the scoreboard first. The fourth line forechecked hard and Cale Makar was the beneficiary of an open look and he put the puck past Karel Vejmelka put Colorado in their familiar driver’s seat up 1-0 after the first period.
The second period was full of action as there were not one but two overturned goals. Under a minute into the action Colorado almost built on their lead when it appeared Gabe Landeskog scored his first goal of the season but after a lengthy review it was determined the play was offside.
A few minutes later Utah had their own goal from John Marino called back as the officials waived it off due to contact in the crease with Wedgewood. It didn’t take long for the home team to get on the board for real, though, with a power play goal from Nick Schmaltz. Utah then added to their lead later in the period when Lawson Crouse got lost in coverage and buried a wide open look. After 40 minutes of play Utah was up 2-1 and crafted a 15-7 shot advantage in the period.
Another ineffective Avalanche power play began the third period but right after it concluded it was Jack Drury’s turn to get on the board as he found an open look at the left side of the crease. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev restored the lead for Utah shortly after on a shot that found its way through traffic and the Mammoth tried to lock down the 3-2 lead to victory.
It took until there was just over two minutes remaining in the game when Colorado had one more trick in the bag as Martin Nečas fired a sharp angle short side shot which barely found an opening between Velmelka’s mask and shoulder to tie the game 3-3. Nečas had not been playing well all evening but one play shows how much of a game breaker he is. And then to overtime the teams went.
That extra frame lasted just 33 seconds as MacKinnon turned the puck over to Utah and Nečas was late on the backcheck. Dylan Guenther scored on a feed from Clayton Keller to give Utah their fourth straight win at home in this 4-3 final from the Delta Center.
Takeaways
It was an eventful game for Zakhar Bardakov who started showing more of his true game in this contest. He picked up his first NHL point on a forecheck which led to the opening goal and delivered some big hits through the night. He still played less than six minutes as the fourth line is still trying to earn a regular role as currently constructed with Joel Kiviranta on Injured Reserve.
Perhaps it’s not yet considered a rivalry but Colorado-Utah is quickly becoming one as this was the second spirited meeting between the two teams with each picking up a victory. It was true back-and-forth action with momentum changes, big hits, skilled plays and tense moments. There is sure more to come when these two teams meet again two days before Christmas at Ball Arena.
Upcoming
One quick game at home in a tough early season match with the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. MT before embarking on another east coast swing. This will also be the debut of the Quebec Nordiques throwback jerseys against Carolina’s Hartford Whalers sweaters.
