Overtime Thriller: Sergachev’s Last-Second Goal Propels Utah to Victory Over Canadiens
In a nail-biting finish at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, the Utah Hockey Club emerged victorious against the Montreal Canadiens, thanks to Mikhail Sergachev’s game-winning goal with just 27 seconds left in overtime. The 3-2 win marked a crucial turning point for Utah, snapping a streak of four losses in their last five games.
Utah’s Resilience Shines
Despite a slow start, Utah demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the game. The team overcame an early third-period deficit, showcasing their ability to stay calm under pressure. Dylan Guenther played a pivotal role, contributing a goal and an assist, while Nick Schmaltz provided two crucial assists.
Utah’s head coach, Andre Tourigny, emphasized the importance of building on recent improvements. “Keep building,” he stated before the game. “In the last two weeks, we have put a lot of building blocks together, so we need to translate that moving forward.”
Key Moments
- Guenther opened the scoring at 6:23 of the second period with a powerful one-timer.
- Montreal’s Jayden Struble equalized at 8:05 with a well-placed wrist shot.
- Alex Newhook gave Montreal the lead 46 seconds into the third period.
- Jack McBain tied the game at 4:17 of the third, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 opportunity.
- Sergachev sealed the win in overtime, redirecting Schmaltz’s pass into the net.
Goaltending Duel
Utah’s Karel Vejmelka put in a solid performance, making 11 saves. His goals-against average of 2.30 ranks ninth in the league, significantly better than teammate Connor Ingram’s 3.6. Conversely, Montreal’s Sam Montembeault faced a barrage of shots, making 26 saves in a losing effort.
Statistical Highlights
- Utah outshot Montreal 29-13, dominating puck possession.
- The Hockey Club improved their overtime record to 4-3 this season.
- Schmaltz continues his impressive assist streak, now at 17 for the season without scoring a goal.
Looking Ahead
This victory concludes Utah’s four-game road trip on a high note. The team now stands at 9-10-3 for the season, showing signs of improvement after a challenging start. As they return home, the Utah Hockey Club will look to build on this momentum and climb further up the standings.
Montreal’s loss drops them to 7-12-2, highlighting the need for improvement, especially in overtime situations. They remain winless this season.
As the inaugural season progresses, both teams will be eager to address their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths. Utah’s ability to close out tight games could prove crucial in their playoff push, while Montreal will be looking to bounce back and find consistency in their performances.
Ultimately, Sergachev best summed up the team’s mentality: “We don’t have to score six every time to win the game. We can help out our goalies a little, give up two, maybe one, and still win the game. And we showed it tonight.”