Nov 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save on a shot from Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to avoid a fourth straight loss when they conclude a three-game road trip against the Utah Hockey Club on Monday in Salt Lake City.
Mitch Marner and John Tavares both scored twice in the Leafs’ 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Captain Auston Matthews chipped in three helpers to extend his point streak to 12 games (three goals, 15 assists).
Anthony Stolarz made 27 saves for Toronto, which is 6-3-1 over its last 10 games. The netminder is 13-6-3 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average in 24 games this season.
Forward Scott Laughton and defenseman Brandon Carlo debuted for Toronto in Colorado after being acquired on Friday afternoon ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
“They were fine. I know (Laughton) was on for a couple of goals against, but overall, I didn’t mind him,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “I thought Carlo was good.
“It’s not easy, no practice, (but) they’ve been around a long time. It takes a little time to form chemistry and just figure everything out.”
Marner has a team-leading 58 assists and 79 points in 62 games, while William Nylander paces the Leafs with 35 goals.
Toronto edged the Utah Hockey Club 3-2 at home in their only other meeting this season.
Monday is Toronto’s first visit to Utah and Leafs players are curious to see what Salt Lake City is like as a hockey market. Winless in three straight (0-2-1), the Leafs — 18-11-2 on the road this season — will look to get back on track in a new environment.
“We’ll see what it’s all about, but excited to see what the arena and fan base are like,” Marner said.
Utah enters Monday’s contest following a 4-3 overtime loss against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Captain Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist, John Marino and Nick Schmaltz also scored and Mikhail Sergachev chipped in two helpers. Karel Vejmelka stopped 21 shots.
The Utah Hockey Club, 6-3-1 in their last 10, sit four points back of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference and are 12-13-6 on home ice this season.
“We need points at this point,” Utah head coach Andre Tourigny said following Friday’s loss. “It’s a back-to-back. I think we stayed in the hunt, we stayed right there and we’ll take that.
“Our team’s a young team who needs to keep growing. The stretch we are in, the situation we are in, it’s adversity. It’s challenging. And we like it. I can see the players embracing it.”
Keller leads Utah with 49 assists and 72 points in 62 games this season. He and Dylan Guenther share the team lead with 23 goals.
Vejmelka is 17-16-5 in 40 games this season, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.48 GAA.
On Sunday, the NHLPA and NHL announced that Utah goaltender Connor Ingram has entered the player assistance program.
Utah recalled goaltender Jaxson Stauber from AHL affiliate Tucson in a corresponding roster move. Stauber has made four starts for Utah this season, posting a 2-1-1 record, a .925 save percentage and a 2.23 GAA.
–Field Level Media
