The Hat Trick: Third Line Woes Continue As Utah Hockey Club Lose To Ducks

Dec 22, 2024, 8:14 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – While the Utah Hockey Club seemed destined for their fifth straight win following a dominant first two periods, some late penalties and a lack of composure allowed the Ducks back into the game. As the third line continued to struggle and a questionable change kept Logan Cooley on the bench, Utah lost to Anaheim in a shootout.

Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s shootout loss.

Clayton Keller is playing elite hockey right now for Utah Hockey Club

Over the month of December, Clayton Keller has amassed a team-best 13 points in nine games for the Utah Hockey Club.

Whether he’s sniped the netminder from a distance, worked hard for greasy goals in close, orchestrated Grade A chances, or delivered in clutch moments, the captain has simply been spectacular for his squad.

Despite the unfortunate shootout loss, all of Keller’s brilliance was on display as he scored twice with two apples during one of his best games of the season.

Another greasy goal but they count all the same. Great work to fight hard at the net.

Keller gives #UtahHC an early 1-0 lead. https://t.co/YJDeINdZLb

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 22, 2024

Play maker, play finisher. Clayton Keller tallies his second of the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eLV5suJVVY

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 22, 2024

Keller’s skillset is a combination of remarkable vision, great patience, a wicked shot and an elite ability to go tape to tape with his teammates in dangerous areas.

“Just playing simple, doing everything I can to help this team win. My linemates have done a great job as well,” Keller said.

When the puck is on his stick in the offensive-zone, you can clearly see the gears turning in his head as he decides how to best attack. Generally, he makes the most effective decision which has propelled him to a team-high 35 points this season.

Whether or not it’s related, Keller has been on an absolute tear since being snubbed from USA’s Four Nations Roster and is a primary reason that Utah has shot up the standings in December.

Logan Cooley should not have been benched late with the game on the line

With 6:29 remaining in the third period, Logan Cooley took a slashing penalty and was then benched for his actions by the coaching staff.

While the Ducks did score on the power play to even the game at 4-4, No. 92 did not return to the ice for the rest of the night.

Following the game, I asked Head Coach Andre Tourigny if Cooley was benched for his penalty and what went into that decision.

“Yup…I will let you think about it,” Tourigny said.

So, let’s think about it.

First of all, yes, this a horrific penalty to take during a key stretch of momentum for the Ducks.

After Anaheim had scored just moments before to bring the game within one, Cooley took a poor slashing penalty to put his team at a disadvantage.

The result? A game tying goal for the Ducks that forced overtime and an eventual shootout loss.

🚨 Leason 🚨

What a play!! We are tied!!! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/gM9s8QyMav

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 23, 2024

A bad penalty to say the least. But on the flipside, benching one of your top three players in a tight game for an extended period of time with critical points on the line is far worse.

During the month of December, Cooley has been one of the primary reasons for Utah’s six wins with two goals and eight assists.

He’s unlocked the top power play unit, is the most talented creator on the roster and might be the most talented overall player on the team despite being just 20 years old.

“He’s a special player,” Keller said. “Loves the game…he’s a great player and he’s just getting started.”

In terms of penalty minutes, before adding four more tonight to his tally tonight, Cooley had just 14 minutes in the box through 32 games. So, it’s not like this was some sort of recurring issue that constantly put the team in a bad spot.

This is the National Hockey League. Every single game and point matters.

It’s not a setting where a player should be punished in that manner, especially when the game is on the line and they’re as critical to your team as Cooley is. Not that talent excuses actions, but there are bigger issues at hand.

So, while the penalty punished the team with a costly goal, benching Cooley may have been more costly considering the final result.

It’s time for some accountability on Utah’s third line

While Utah’s third line struggles have been addressed many times before, it’s now reaching unacceptable levels and there hasn’t been a solution.

Despite an effort to mix things up in the third period by dropping Lawson Crouse to the fourth line, there simply needs to be more significant changes made in order to correct that trio’s poor performances.

Lawson Crouse has been moved down to the fourth line.

Carcone up to the third.#UtahHC

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 23, 2024

“We have four lines. We move around and we did it last week as well. Switch it a little bit. We’re trying to get everybody going,” Tourigny said.

During the month of December, Lawson Crouse, Matias Maccelli and Nick Bjugstad have combined for just four points.

Against the Ducks, Keller had that many on his own in just 40 minutes of hockey. So, something is clearly off with that line and it needs more significant correction.

However, mixing up the lines is not the right way to go about it as the first, second and fourth are all rolling. It’s simply not worth switching Michael Carcone for Crouse, nor is that going to yield results.

A scratch is absolutely necessary at this point. If nobody on that line wants to produce, why not give Liam O’Brien a shot to see if he can bring something different?

They could also bring back Josh Doan who was sent down to the AHL after just nine games because he only scored twice. That’s half as many as Crouse has scored in 32 appearances.

Look, Utah is playing great hockey right now. They’re winning most of their games, climbing in the standings and even managed a point in two of their losses this month.

But that success is overshadowing poor play from the third line and if they want to take a real shot at the playoffs, they will eventually need more from that group.

Utah Hockey Schedule

The Utah Hockey Club will now transition to game two of their back-to-back homestand as they face the Stars on Monday night. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.