NEW YORK CITY -- Utah Hockey Club star Clayton Keller said his team showed it can measure up with Stanley Cup contenders after its 6-5 overtime win at the New York Rangers on Saturday night. But the NHL's newest team also showed it can win when things get weird.
Utah improved to 3-0-0 after winning a game that saw seven goals scored in the second period; another Rangers goal kept off the board because of goalie interference; two ejections for starting a fight while one was already ongoing; and the home team rallying to tie the game three times, including in the third period before Keller ended it in overtime with his third goal of the season, roofing the puck over goalie Igor Shesterkin.
"Those are the games where you have to stay patient," Keller said. "Before, I would kind of get off my game because things aren't going my way or there are a couple bad bounces. But as a group we were able to fight through and get the win."
That was especially true after one of the oddest goals of the young NHL season: Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller banking the puck off the side boards and having it travel directly into an open Utah net to cut the lead to 4-3 in the second period.
"I said 'That's MSG, baby.' That's what I thought. Here we go. There's ghosts somewhere," Utah coach André Tourigny said. "But we were still ahead. It was important for us to stay level and not get emotional."
After the game, Utah did get emotional in its dressing room, celebrating a torrid 3-0-0 start that has been defined by goal scoring. Utah is the third franchise in NHL history to score five or more goals in each of its first three games of existence. The 1917-18 Montreal Canadiens hold the NHL record at five straight games with five or more goals. Despite relocating from Arizona, Utah is considered a new NHL franchise since the records and intellectual property remained with Coyotes ownership after the sale.
Utah improved to 3-0-0 after winning a game that saw seven goals scored in the second period; another Rangers goal kept off the board because of goalie interference; two ejections for starting a fight while one was already ongoing; and the home team rallying to tie the game three times, including in the third period before Keller ended it in overtime with his third goal of the season, roofing the puck over goalie Igor Shesterkin.
"Those are the games where you have to stay patient," Keller said. "Before, I would kind of get off my game because things aren't going my way or there are a couple bad bounces. But as a group we were able to fight through and get the win."
That was especially true after one of the oddest goals of the young NHL season: Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller banking the puck off the side boards and having it travel directly into an open Utah net to cut the lead to 4-3 in the second period.
"I said 'That's MSG, baby.' That's what I thought. Here we go. There's ghosts somewhere," Utah coach André Tourigny said. "But we were still ahead. It was important for us to stay level and not get emotional."
After the game, Utah did get emotional in its dressing room, celebrating a torrid 3-0-0 start that has been defined by goal scoring. Utah is the third franchise in NHL history to score five or more goals in each of its first three games of existence. The 1917-18 Montreal Canadiens hold the NHL record at five straight games with five or more goals. Despite relocating from Arizona, Utah is considered a new NHL franchise since the records and intellectual property remained with Coyotes ownership after the sale.
