If you were watching the Delta Center ice last night, you saw a team that is finally starting to look like a serious threat in the Central Division. The Utah hockey club score last night ended in a decisive 6-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Honestly, it wasn't just about the win; it was about how they did it. This team, now officially leaning into the "Mammoth" moniker in local circles, looked resilient even when Seattle clawed back from a two-goal deficit.
A lot of people thought Utah would hit a mid-season wall. Instead, they’ve won three straight and have picked up points in seven consecutive games. They are playing a heavy, opportunistic style of hockey that André Tourigny has been preaching since the puck dropped in October. Last night was the perfect example of that "found a way" mentality.
The Nate Schmidt Show in Salt Lake City
The biggest story from the Utah hockey club score last night has to be Nate Schmidt. You don’t often see a defenseman rack up four points in a single game, but Schmidt was everywhere. He notched two goals and two assists, basically willing the team forward during a tense third period.
Utah didn’t start great. Jordan Eberle put Seattle up 1-0 just 69 seconds into the game. It was one of those "here we go again" moments for the home crowd. But Kevin Stenlund answered back with a short-handed goal only a few minutes later. That play was huge. It killed Seattle’s momentum and settled the nerves in the building.
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By the time the second period rolled around, Schmidt took over. He scored from distance just 28 seconds after the intermission. Then Nick Schmaltz hammered home his 18th of the year to make it 3-1. For a moment, it felt like a blowout was coming.
Seattle’s Push and the Final Collapse
Hockey is a game of surges. Seattle didn't just go away. Matty Beniers and Chandler Stephenson both found the back of the net late in the second period, tying the game at 3-3. You could feel the tension in the Delta Center. The Kraken have been struggling lately, but they’ve got enough talent to make anyone look silly if you give them an inch.
The third period was all Utah.
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- Nate Schmidt broke the tie with 5:30 left on a filthy shot that beat Philipp Grubauer.
- Barrett Hayton padded the lead later with a clutch finish.
- Lawson Crouse capped off a massive night (1G, 2A) to put the game out of reach.
Karel Vejmelka wasn't overly busy—he only had to make 18 saves—but he made the ones that mattered. When you look at the stats, Utah outshot Seattle 30-21. They won the faceoff battle (53%). They out-hit them 25-13. Basically, they outworked them in every dirty area of the ice.
Why This Win Actually Matters for Utah
It’s easy to look at a 6-3 score and just say "cool, they won." But the context is everything here. This was a "four-point game." Seattle and Utah are essentially racing for the same real estate in the Western Conference standings. By taking these two points, Utah (now 25-20-4) creates some much-needed breathing room.
There’s a lot of talk about the team's identity. For a long time, this group (back in the Arizona days) was known for being "scrappy but inconsistent." Now? They have one of the best goals-against averages in the league (ranked 6th as of this morning). They aren't just surviving games; they are closing them out.
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Moving Forward: What to Watch Next
If you’re following the team, don’t expect them to let up. This win against Seattle was the start of a critical stretch. They’ve got the Philadelphia Flyers coming into town on Wednesday, January 21. After that, it’s a brutal road trip through Nashville and Florida.
What to keep an eye on:
The power play is still a bit of a mess. It’s sitting near the bottom of the league at roughly 15.7%. If Utah wants to be more than just a "tough out" in the playoffs, that man-advantage has to get more creative. Last night they went 0-for-2 on the power play, actually getting their best scoring looks while short-handed. It’s a weird quirk, but one that might not be sustainable against top-tier teams like the Avalanche or the Stars.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you're looking to track the team's progress, keep a close watch on the "points in consecutive games" streak. Currently at seven, this is the longest stretch of consistency the franchise has seen in years. Check the secondary market for the Flyers game early; with the team's current hot streak, the Delta Center is actually starting to sell out regularly.
The Mammoth are for real. Last night proved it.