The Hat Trick: Utah Hockey Club Finish Home Schedule In Shootout Loss To Nashville

SALT LAKE CITY – As the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season home schedule came to a close in a shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, the final night at Delta Center highlighted the immense growth the NHL has made in Utah over the last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s 4-3 shootout loss to Nashville.

Nashville spoiled Utah Hockey Club’s final home game in a shootout

In a gritty contest with the visiting Nashville Predators, the Utah Hockey Club finished out their inaugural season home schedule with an 4-3 OT loss following a disappointing shootout.

Silky Mitts Forsberg 👑 pic.twitter.com/PN3e7BtKdi

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 11, 2025

Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the second period, Utah allowed three straight Predator’s goals before Dylan Guenther tied it up in the third frame.

Always, always, always crash the net.

Also, Guenther should never shed the bubble. Even when he’s fully healed.

Keep it man. Bubble boy aura is unmatched. https://t.co/10mflxuDWW

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 11, 2025

Unfortunately for Utah however, their shootout woes returned as Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther all failed to light the lamp.

On the flipside, Filip Forsberg buried his opportunity and sent Utah home with a slightly sour taste in their mouth to finish the season at Delta Center.

“I kind of made up my mind before and stuck to it. It was good,” Forsberg said.

A special bond has been forged between the Utah Hockey Club and their Clubbers

From the inaugural game on October 8 to the final matchup on April 10, a special bond between the Utah Hockey Club and their fanbase has quickly blossomed into something truly special.

“It was special for us. There were a lot of emotions. There were a lot of connections with the crowd,” Head coach Andre Tourigny said.

“We wanted to play for them and play in front of them. It’s tough to comprehend there’s no more this year. We’re addicted now.”

Despite being the newest city in the NHL with thousands of new hockey fans, the city and state quickly transformed into a legitimate fanbase who fell in love with an unfamiliar sport.

Thanks for always showing up, Utah fans! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/AdolY8pp41

— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) April 11, 2025

Fast forward to their final home game of the season against Nashville, hundreds of clubbers were in the plaza before the doors had even opened, fully outfitted in their Utah jerseys, hats, shirts and of course, vegetable heads.

@utah_hockey got Vejmelka’s stick from warmups.

That is one happy vegetable. #UtahHC pic.twitter.com/lwyXk6CCh4

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 11, 2025

Whether a lifelong fan or completely new to the sport, the Utah Hockey Club has captured the hearts of many in year one as they’ve fully embraced the community.

“I never cared about hockey until now, and now I can’t imagine loving a sport more,” new fan Ashley Brewer said.

“It’s given me something to really look forward to…the friends I’ve made through it has been the best part of the whole experience.”

Dedicated to the fans, the final home game was a wholesome experience from start to finish.

Immediately following the puck drop, thunderous chants of “Let’s Go Utah!” rang throughout Delta Center with a feeling of gratitude.

Throughout the rest of the night, the players battled for the fans inside Delta Center who collectively responded with standing ovations, chants for Vejmelka and handwritten signs of appreciation.

“Hockey was always here. I think it’s really just shined a light on the community of hockey and how different it is from the sports we already have here,” Utah Hockey Club fan Kelley Godbold said.

“Utah is all about community and hockey is all about community…I think they just complement each other really well.”

In addition to being the perfect destination as a winter sports town, like Goldbold said, Utah is all about community which has created an intimate bond between the NHL and the beehive state.

So, while fans from Utah will always love their Jazz, Utes and Cougars, a unique bond has been born at ice level between the NHL’s newest franchise and their faithful clubbers.

Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season team award winners

Capping off their inaugural season, the Utah Hockey Club delivered a series of awards to their most outstanding players.

Immediately following the victory over Nashville, Utah named an MVP, Three-Stars Award, Leading Goal Scorer, Community Obsessed Award and an All-In Award.

The following players were named to those awards:

• MVP: Karel Vejmelka
• Three Stars: Dylan Guenther
• Leading Goal Scorer: Clayton Keller
• Community Obsessed: Alexander Kerfoot
• All-In: Barrett Hayton

Karel Vejmelka wins the Team MVP award.#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/0E9kyLCbNz

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 11, 2025

“Those five players have been recognized, and they all deserve it, no doubt about it. But there’s a lot of guys, unsung heroes, on our team that I would have loved to see them be rewarded as well,” Tourigny said.

“I understand we need to have limits, but I think there are a lot of guys who put their heart into the job this year, and they helped us make this year a special year.”

Next For The Utah Hockey Club

The Utah Hockey Club will now face the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at American Airlines Center. 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.

Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.

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