Utah Hockey Club Falls To Florida Panthers

Jan 8, 2025, 10:55 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Hockey Club was no match for the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, falling 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Utah HC (17-15-7, 41 points) returns home on Wednesday, January 8, to host the Panthers (24-15-2, 50 points). Tonight’s game is broadcast on TNT with puck drop at 8 p.m. MT.

Back at home on Friday. pic.twitter.com/EGv1cbbtDX

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 9, 2025

High-scoring center Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with 22 goals and 24 assists. Four other Panthers have double-figure goals, led by 14 from Matthew Tkachuk and 13 from Sam Bennett. The Panthers’ goal-tender Sergei Bobrovsky is fifth in the NHL, having 17 wins. Bobrovsky is allowing 2.76 goals per night.

Clayton Keller continues to pace Utah with 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists), followed by Dylan Guenther’s 34 points and 34 from Logan Cooley. Guenther’s 16 goals lead four players with double-digit goals.

Fourth-year goalie Karel Vejmelka has been a revelation in the net for Utah HC since Connor Ingram’s injury. Vejmelka allows a paltry 2.45 goals per game.

Pregame

The Utah Hockey Club is trying to establish a winning culture & Kevin Stenlund has been a big part of that.

More here ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/yAGu5qdg68

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

We’re back for NHL hockey and the Delta Center is decorated with more rally towels.

Barn is going to be rocking again!#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/qYxSw7iYDN

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

LISTEN LIVE: @utahhockeyclub is back at Delta Center to face the defending champion @FlaPanthers on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/HSTvHsxm8y pic.twitter.com/keVm7U8uh2

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 9, 2025

First Period

Really nice, sustained pressure from the Utah Hockey Club here early in the period.

Great movement in the offensive zone and a few quality chances.

Energy is really high to start this game.#UtahHC

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Ian Cole is battling with Tkachuk right now in front of the net and just drew a penalty on him. Tkachuk makes a living in the crease and Cole was not having it.

Tkachuk to the box for high sticking.

Utah to the power play.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Keller was just tripped right in front of the referee.

No call. Not sure why as it was obvious.

20 seconds remaining on the Utah power play. Haven’t done much.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Keller might be one of the best passers in the NHL.

The way he can deliver the puck, especially the way he’s able to elevate it is unreal. So skilled.#UtahHC

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Very impressed with how Utah has matched Florida’s physicality tonight.

Hits are currently 10-9 in favor of Florida, but Utah is right there.

To me, that’s part of the Liam O’Brien effect.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Solid first period in a scoreless hockey game for Utah.

They matched Florida’s physicality, responded in key moments, had a few quality scoring chances and competed.

Great start against the reigning Champs. https://t.co/2OQmF0mXlE

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Second Period

Barrett Hayton to the box for high sticking.

Panthers to the power play.

2P: 19:44 | 0-0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 9, 2025

Panthers score on the power play.

Utah could not clear the zone, Florida dug in, and some quick passing resulted in a goal.

1-0 Florida

2P: 18:55

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Florida is starting to suffocate Utah a bit right now.

The club cannot get out of their own end aside from icing the puck.

Panthers forecheck is brutal right now. Just non-stop and Utah is struggling to respond.

2P: 10:12 | 1-0 Florida

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Third line has been strong again tonight.

Solid forecheck has opened up some dangerous opportunities in front. Just haven’t been able to finish.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Unreal attempt from Cooley here.

Spins and tries to go between the legs with his back to the net???

Goal of the year if that would’ve gone in.#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/zlHihmp6t5

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

End of the second period.

Utah 0
Florida 1

SOG

Utah 21
Florida 20

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 9, 2025

Third Period

Panthers score again.

2-0 Florida

3P: 18:12 | 2-0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 9, 2025

Valimaki just took a nasty stick across the nose from Verhaeghe.

Utah to the power play. Critical moment. Have to score.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Bodies are flying all over the place at Delta Center after Stenlund took a nasty knee hit against the boards and retaliated with a slash.

Everyone got involved and things got interesting.

Utah emerges with a man advantage.

3P: 9:51 | 2-0 Florida

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Here we go again.

More theatrics.

Utah has had enough of Florida’s game and I cannot blame them. Been a lot of cheap shots out there tonight.

Utah back to the power play.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

LOGAN COOLEY SCORES AND UTAH HAS NEW LIFE.

FILTHY no looker.

One goal game.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Logan Cooley cuts the Florida lead in half 🍿

📺: SN1, Sportsnet+ pic.twitter.com/BDtQxjRf4V

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 9, 2025

Empty netter for the Panthers and that should do it.

Florida leads 3-1.

3P: 2:01

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Another empty net goal for the Panthers.

4-1 Florida

Utah drops another at home.

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 9, 2025

Utah HC-Florida Gameday Reading

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Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. Listen to Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.

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