Utah won because Schmaltz converted both power-play chances to break the game open, with a 36β24 shot advantage confirming Utah's territorial dominance throughout.
β‘TURNING POINT
Schmaltz's power-play goal at 7:16 of the third extended Utah's lead to 3β1 and, critically, arrived 26 seconds before Peterka made it 4β1 at even strength β a two-goal swing in 26 seconds that eliminated any realistic Winnipeg recovery window. Winnipeg had been within one goal entering the third; that sequence turned a contest into damage control.
πWHY UTA WON
1
Shot Volume: 36 shots to Winnipeg's 24 β Utah's territorial dominance created sustained offensive zone time that generated two power-play goals and an empty-netter to seal it.
2
Power Play Execution: Utah converted 2-of-5 (40.0%) on the man advantage, with Schmaltz producing both goals; special teams were the difference in a two-goal game.
3
Takeaway Differential: Takeaways 6β3 in Utah's favor β Utah generated more transition opportunities and limited Winnipeg's ability to sustain offensive-zone pressure.
πWHY WPG LOST
1
Shot Suppression Failure: Conceding 36 shots on goal β 12 more than they generated β Winnipeg spent too much of the game defending and could not sustain enough pressure to overcome multi-goal deficits.
2
Penalty Trouble: Winnipeg took 10 PIM against Utah's 6, surrendering three power-play opportunities that directly produced two Utah goals; the discipline gap cost them the game.
3
Goaltending Margin: Comrie conceded 0.50 goals above league average on 35 shots β in a two-goal game, that shortfall was meaningful.
Three Stars
Nick Schmaltz1st
UTA, C
2G2 PPG8 shots on goal21:21 TOI
Both goals came on the power play and directly produced Utah's decisive third-period lead.
Logan Cooley2nd
UTA, C
1G1A3 shots on goal+118:17 TOI
Cooley's involvement in Utah's opening goal and his assist on Schmaltz's third-period power-play conversion made him central to Utah's two most decisive sequences.
JJ Peterka3rd
UTA, R
1G4 shots on goal+115:02 TOI
His even-strength goal 26 seconds after Schmaltz's third-period power-play strike turned a two-goal lead into an insurmountable three-goal cushion.
