Keller Secures Third Straight Win for Undefeated Utah

The Utah Hockey Club continued their perfect start to the season with a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Clayton Keller stole the show, netting the game-winning goal 4:05 into overtime.

Back-and-Forth Battle

The game was a seesaw affair, with both teams trading blows throughout regulation. Utah jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the second period, but the Rangers battled back to tie the game at 5-5 with goals from Braden Schneider and Will Cuylle.

Keller’s Heroics

With the game hanging in the balance, Keller took matters into his own hands in overtime. He maneuvered behind the net, creating space, and roofed a backhand shot over the shoulder of Igor Shesterkin to secure the win for the Utah Hockey Club.

Hayton Steps Up

Barrett Hayton also had a strong performance for Utah, contributing a goal and an assist. This brings his season total to three goals in three games, a significant improvement from his performance last year.

Disappointment for Rangers

Despite generating a lot of offense, the Rangers were left frustrated after failing to capitalize on defensive miscues. Coach Chris Kreider emphasized the need for tighter defensive play to avoid surrendering costly goals.

Historic Start for Utah

This victory marks Utah’s third straight win to open their inaugural season. They join an exclusive club, with Dylan Guenther and Hayton becoming the fifth and sixth players in NHL history to score in each of a franchise’s first three games. The team’s offensive prowess is also noteworthy, as their 16 goals rank third-most by a franchise in NHL history through the first three games.