The 2024-25 NHL season is officially here as your LA Kings start off the preseason with road test in Utah.
The newly formed Utah Hockey Club as they relocated from Arizona to Utah starting this season. The Kings will have most of their players from the main team not playing tonight, as they will have most of the prospects and AHL players playing in the first preseason tilt.
Both teams had chances early on in the first period as Kings forward Charles Hudon had the first grade A opportunity on a breakaway but could not find the back of the net. Utah started to gain more momentum midway through the period.
Kings goalie Erik Portillo made two saves to keep the game scoreless, but it wasn’t enough as Lawson Crouse scored the first goal in Utah history on the power play with 5 minutes left in the period.
The Kings and Utah had a pair of fights right after one another late in the period.
Utah grabbed its second goal of the game also on the power play as Alex Kerfoot slotted right past Erik Portillio.
Utah took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Kings cut the Hockey Clubs lead in half as Jeff Malott tipped a shot from Caleb Jones to make it a 1-2 game. The Kings gained momentum right after scoring, but Utah’s goaltender Connor Ingram made a sprawling save on a Kings 2 on 0 rush in the 2nd period.
The Kings managed to get a five on three powerplay halfway through the period and with 2 seconds left on the powerplay Alex Turcotte put home the rebound to tie the game at 2-2.
Both teams headed into the 2nd intermission tied at 2-2.
To start the third period both starting goalies were swapped out for their backups.
Utah goalie Matt Villalta robbed Kings forward Francesco Pinelli of a great goal scoring opportunity.
Midway through the 3rd period Utah started to get more zone time and create some offensive chances.
The Kings had a last ditch effort but couldn’t score as the game went into overtime.
Clayton Keller picked up the puck off a LA turnover and scored to win the game 3-2 and earn Utahs first victory on home ice.
After the game there was an exhibition shootout which Utah won as well.
Final from Utah. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/pxp0gVrOwo
— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 24, 2024
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