Barrett Hayton scored a late game-winning goal to give the host Utah Hockey Club a 2-1 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday in Salt Lake City.
Nick Schmaltz also scored for Utah, which snapped a two-game skid and went into the clash with only one victory in seven outings. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 18 saves in a tight-checking, low-event affair.
Fabian Zetterlund replied for the Sharks, who have dropped two straight games and have only two victories in 12 games. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev stopped 24 shots.
With overtime looming, Hayton gained the puck in the corner, skated to the top of the right circle and found the mark with his offering with 92 seconds remaining in regulation.
After Utah forward Kevin Stenlund received a high-sticking double-minor penalty with 56 seconds remaining on the clock, Vejmelka made a couple of key stops to preserve the victory.
Utah has scored two or fewer goals in eight of 10 outings, but came up with a rare win at home. The club sports a 6-8-4 record at the Delta Center.
Zetterlund gave the Sharks a much-desired early boost when he opened the scoring just 58 seconds into the clash. After winning a face-off in the offensive zone, Mikael Granlund’s sharp-angled shot was denied, but Zetterlund converted the rebound for his fourth goal in three games against Utah this season.
Schmaltz evened the score at 5:57 of the second period. While his team was controlling play in the offensive zone, Schmaltz worked across the ice to the right circle before ripping a short-side, glove-side shot to make it a 1-1 game.
Utah thought they had taken a lead early in the third period when Clayton Keller buried a shot, but it was overturned on a coach’s challenge due to Schmaltz making contact with Georgiev.
The Sharks went nearly 20 minutes of action without a shot on goal from the middle of the second period into the final frame before a frantic late push.
The loss was even more costly for the Sharks, as forward Klim Kostin left the game due to a lower-body injury suffered in the first period.
–Field Level Media
