Utah won because Vejmelka conceded 1.20 goals below average while Hart conceded 2.80 goals above average, a combined 4.0-goal goaltending swing that erased Vegas's 32-to-12 shot advantage entirely.
β‘TURNING POINT
Guenther's power-play goal at 17:45 of the first period doubled Utah's lead to 2-0 with under three minutes left in the period, converting one of Vegas's 10 penalty minutes into a deficit that required a Vegas comeback rather than a battle. Entering the second period down two goals stripped Vegas of their aggressive forecheck structure, and Utah answered the period break by scoring twice in nine minutes to make it 4-0.
πWHY UTA WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Goaltending: Vejmelka conceded 1.20 goals below average on 32 shots β in a 4-goal game, that margin suppressed a Vegas attack generating nearly three times Utah's shot volume.
2
Special Teams: Power play 1/2 (50.0%) versus Vegas 0/5 (0.0%) β Utah converted their opportunities while Vegas generated five chances and returned nothing, a five-power-play swing that defined the game's scoring structure.
3
Penalty Kill: VGK's 10 PIM gave Utah repeated zone entries on the advantage; Vegas's discipline failure funded Utah's lead before the second period began.
πWHY VGK LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Goaltending: Hart conceded 2.80 goals above average on 12 shots β Vegas outshooting Utah 32-12 is irrelevant when four goals allowed from 12 attempts represents a conversion rate that no shot volume recovers.
2
Power Play: 0/5 (0.0%) β five opportunities to reduce a multi-goal deficit produced zero goals, leaving Vegas reliant on even-strength scoring against a below-average goalie margin.
3
Giveaways: VGK recorded 23 giveaways against Utah's 4 β this turnover disparity consistently reset Utah's defensive structure and disrupted any sustained offensive zone time Vegas generated.
Three Stars
Lawson Crouse1st
UTA, L
2G 0A+/- +2TOI 19:17
Both goals came at even strength and pushed Utah's lead to 4-0, removing any realistic Vegas comeback window.
Karel Vejmelka2nd
UTA, G
SV% 0.93830/32 savesTOI 60:00
Conceding 1.20 goals below average on a 32-shot workload neutralised the only structural advantage Vegas held all game.
MacKenzie Weegar3rd
UTA, D
1G 1A2PTOI 19:46+/- +1
Weegar contributed to Utah's first two goals, setting the game's decisive early tone from the blue line.
