The Utah Hockey Club has lost five of its last six games since Sean Durzi left the game against the Devils with a shoulder injury. Since then, all the talk has been about how Utah will fill the void on its blueline to keep the puck out of its net.
However, Utah's defence has been alright, considering they have allowed the eighth most goals per game in the NHL through their first nine games of the season.
The Utah Hockey Club has been one of the best teams in the NHL at suppressing scoring chances. It allows the sixth-fewest shots per game, third-fewest shot attempts, second-fewest scoring chances, and fourth-fewest high-danger chances (via NaturalStatTrick).
Despite having some of the stingiest goals-against numbers in the NHL, the Utah Hockey Club is giving up goals at a high rate for two reasons. Let's discuss them.
Connor Ingram is off to a slow start with the Utah Hockey Club
Connor Ingram has a 4-2-1 record in his first seven starts this season, but only 29% of those have been quality starts (via Hockey Reference). In addition, he ranks 56th of 70 goalies with -0.94 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes and a .863 save percentage, which ranks 57th of 70 goalies this season (via NaturalStatTrick).
Despite Ingram's slow start, there is no cause for concern yet. It is still early in the season, and goaltending is all about timing and finding a rhythm, which can take some time. Ingram found that rhythm a lot last year, finishing tied for the league lead in shutouts.
With Utah's some of the best chance suppression numbers in the NHL, you would like to see some more consistency from Ingram, but not all of Utah's struggles can be blamed on Connor Ingram and the Utah Hockey Club's goaltending.
The Utah Hockey Club needs to take better care of the puck.
Even with Utah having some of the best chance suppression numbers in the NHL, you cannot entirely blame the goaltending for their high goals allowed. When the Hockey Club gives up chances, they typically come off of turnovers, whether failing to get the puck out of their own end or making a risky pass on the rush, which results in an odd-man rush going back the other way.
So far this season, the Utah Hockey Club has the six most giveaways and defensive zone giveaways (via MoneyPuck). These turnovers in the defensive end keep tired defenders on the ice, which has quite often resulted in Utah getting scored on. Utah has also frequently turned the puck over in vulnerable positions on the ice, leading to odd-man rushes that are extremely difficult for players and goaltenders to defend. If they can limit these critical mistakes, it will take a lot of pressure off Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka in the net, and that's when you will start to see the Utah Hockey Club's goals allowed per game numbers drop.