Why the Utah Hockey Club lost for the first time

On Monday something happened that had never happened before in NHL history, The Utah Hockey Club lost in the regular season. Granted the team is only four games old but they lost to the New Jersey Devils 3-0 and fell to 3-1-0 on their inaugural season. Devils goaltender Jake Allen also became the first goaltender in NHL history to beat all 33 clubs, if you consider Utah an “expansion” franchise and the Arizona Coyotes still kind of sort of existing as a “suspended” franchise.

What lead to Utah’s first loss of the season? The shot total was 33-20 in favor of New Jersey, so you might guess Utah was playing low event hockey. Low shot totals have been surprisingly consistent in the beginning of the season for Utah. Only twice so far have they had a period with double digit shots for, in the second period against the New York Rangers and in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Utah currently sits 28th in the NHL at 24.80 shots for per game

They sit in last place among teams that have played at least four games. Yet they sit seventh in the league in average goals for per game and first for teams with at least four games played (all stats are entering Tuesday).

Even if playing against a rebuilding Chicago squad skewed those numbers, this is still a team that put up five goals and six goals against the New York Islanders and Rangers, respectively, who play sound defense. If you think the Devils defense did heavy lifting to keep Utah out of net they dominated in the shots blocked department with a 21-8 advantage over the Devils.

The Devils strong power play was able to shut down Utah on the man advantage. Utah scored power play goals against the Islanders (twice) and Rangers, but not against the Devils or Blackhawks.

Let’s switch gears from why Utah couldn’t put the puck in net to why they couldn’t keep the puck out of their net. The Devils scored twice on the power play, making this the third game in a row Utah has allowed a power play goal. This is the first time Utah has ever allowed multiple power play goals. None of New Jersey’s three goals came with the empty net Utah gave them in the closing minutes of the third period.

New Jersey’s power plays might have been the biggest detriment to Utah all game

Utah gifted New Jersey a season high seven power plays. Utah’s game against the Islanders saw them take six trips to the penalty box, while their games against the Rangers and Blackhawks only saw them take three apiece. Maybe Utah is lucky New Jersey didn’t inflict even more damage on the man advantage.

The most notable change for Utah saw them switch to backup net minder Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka was dethroned as the team’s No. 1 last year in favor of Connor Ingram, who finished last season with an 8.30 goals saved above expected in 50 games compared to Vejmelka’s minus-6.70 in 38 games. Interestingly Vejmelka left Monday's start, his only start of the season, with a 1.60 goals saved above expected, suggesting he performed pretty well against a Devils offense that got 33 shots on him.

The most likely culprit of Utah’s first loss might be tired hockey players. Monday’s game was the third of a four game road trip for Utah that ends tomorrow against the Anaheim Ducks. Both of Utah’s prior games in the New York area went into overtime and lasted longer than 60 minutes. It’s not surprising that Utah may have run out of gas. what is surpring is that a team that scored at least five goals in their previous three games got shut out completely.

The in-game injury to Sean Durzi doesn’t help, but can we point to that as a definitive factor in Utah’s loss? His defensive pairing with Mikhail Sergachev is fifth in the league for xGoals For at 3.40 (entering Tuesday). That’s the third best number for teams that have played at least four games.

The injury meant Durzi had a season low (tied with the game against Chicago) in shorthanded time on ice while the Devils had seven power plays at 1:36. For reference, when he Islanders had six power plays Durzi was on the ice for 5:32 shorthanded.