Utah Hockey Club Collapses in third period and lose in OT against Sharks

Recapping the Utah Hockey Club's ugly loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Oct 28, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA;  San Jose Sharks center Alexander Wennberg (21) scores past Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram (39) during overtime at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; San Jose Sharks center Alexander Wennberg (21) scores past Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram (39) during overtime at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images | Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

The San Jose Sharks mounted a massive comeback over the Utah Hockey Club. Utah fell to the Sharks 5-4 in overtime. Alex Wennberg won it for the Sharks on a power-play goal.

It’s a major collapse for the Utah Hockey Club. After leading 4-1, Utah would collapse late in the third to give San Jose their first win after becoming the first team in NHL history to lose their first nine games of the season in back-to-back years.

Utah was outshot 36-11 throughout the rest of the game after the second period. The Sharks put 45 shots on goal compared to Utah’s 23.

Dylan Guenther scored his sixth goal of the season. Matias Maccelli scored two goals in this game. Maccelli hasn’t scored this season until Monday night. Goaltender Connor Ingram made 40 of 45 saves. Although Ingram had a good game, he let a couple of goals slip by him

Utah Hockey Club Collapses in third period and lose in OT against Sharks

It was a trap game for Utah. Utah got complacent and too comfortable, taking their foot off the gas. San Jose took advantage of the situation.

Utah needs to do some soul-searching after this embarrassing loss. They have lost four in a row.

Utah had a chance to score after San Jose had an empty net, but they didn’t take advantage of scoring. 

Defense and special teams led down this team. Utah had some excellent possessions in overtime, but they dropped the ball. 

Utah keeps making the same mistakes in the defensive zone and missing coverage. To bolster its defense, Utah needs to make some kind of trade. 

Every team needs a ‘heartbeat’ player to galvanize the troops and wake them up whenever they’re not playing well. Who is the heartbeat of this Utah Hockey Club?

After this loss against the Sharks, someone needs to step up and have a serious talk in the locker room. These are games Utah can’t afford to lose. For a team that’s as talented as Utah, they are better than this. 

It’s unacceptable that Utah lost those consecutive face-off possessions in the last five minutes of the third period. There was a lack of poise, focus, and tenacity, and the defense was atrocious. 

Penalty minutes were also a huge factor. Utah had 13 of them, and they need to cut that number down. 

Utah is giving people every reason to think these are the same Arizona Coyotes from the past. Accountability and leadership need to step up sooner rather than later. Utah requires a reality check and find a way to stop the bleeding.

Utah will face the Calgary Flames on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. EST. The team is trying to stop a four-game losing streak.