The Pittsburgh Penguins played a game in the Beehive State for the first time Wednesday.

And that new experience led to an infrequent experience — over recent weeks, anyway — as they defeated the Utah Hockey Club, 3-2, in overtime, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Forward Sidney Crosby’s 16th goal of the season at 3:54 of the extra period was the difference.

“Nice to score in this building,” Crosby said to reporters in Salt Lake City via audio provided by the team’s media relations staff. “It’s a new building and a great atmosphere. Fun to get one.”

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak (0-3-0) and salvaged, somewhat, a mostly unappetizing seven-game road trip that saw them cobble together a 3-4-0 record.

With the victory, the Penguins have a 21-24-8 record and 50 points, figures that have them in ninth place of the Eastern Conference.

“We needed the two points tonight,” Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic said to reporters in Salt Lake City. “One wasn’t going to be enough. We know it.”

Composed mostly of players from the defunct Arizona Coyotes franchise, the first-year Utah Hockey Club took the contest’s first lead 14:51 into regulation when defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored his ninth goal during a power-play opportunity.

Under duress, Utah forward Nick Schmaltz took a pass in the Penguins’ right circle and immediately backhanded it to the high slot for Sergachev. Moving up a bit, Sergachev had a chasm of a shooting lane and stroked a wrister past Nedeljkovic’s glove. Schmaltz and forward Logan Cooley, a native of West Mifflin, had assists.

Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson’s third goal at 6:40 of the second period tied the game.

Chasing down a loose puck in Utah’s left corner, Crosby slipped a backhand pass to the center point where Pettersson had his stick cocked back and smoked a one-timer. Utah forward Alex Kerfoot was stationed in the high slot and attempted to block the shot, only to have the puck glance off of his left shin and deflect by goaltender Connor Ingram’s glove. Crosby and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk generated assists.

Utah forward Michael Carcone reclaimed a lead with his fourth goal only 116 seconds later.

After Penguins forward Noel Acciari had a one-timer attempt from Utah’s right circle blocked by forward Nick Bjugstad, the puck deflected to the far corner. Utah defenseman John Marino collected the puck and lofted a stretch pass past the center red line. Jetting by Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, Carcone settled the puck and attacked the net on a breakaway only to have Nedeljkovic close his five hole on the first shot attempt. As Nedeljkovic fell to his backside, Carcone jabbed at the rebound, causing it to roll up over Nedeljkovic’s head and into the cage. Assists belonged to Marino and Bjugstad.

Karlsson tied the game again with his fifth goal 6:17 into the third period.

Pushing the puck up out of the defensive zone, Schmaltz attempted an ill-conceived cross-ice pass at his own blue line intended for linemate Clayton Keller. Those ambitions never materialized and the puck clunked off the boards near the home bench and was claimed by Karlsson. Sauntering up the right wing wall of Utah’s zone, Karlsson considered his options and opted to sizzle a rising wrister over Ingram’s left shoulder on the near side. There were no assists.

Crosby used his signature backhand on his only shot of the contest to secure victory.

Gaining the offensive zone, Penguins forward Rickard Rakell fed the puck across the ice to the left wing and darted to the bench for a change. Penguins forward Cody Glass took the puck, pushed it into the left circle, curled around then waited, waited, waited for Crosby to come off the bench. Accepting a drop pass from Glass, Crosby surged past Utah rookie forward Josh Doan, cut across the front of the crease and delivered an adroit backhand shot over the glove of an outstretched Ingram. Glass and Rakell had assists.

Nedeljkovic made 27 saves on 29 shots and his record improved to 10-9-4.

Notes

• Given the NHL’s stance that the Utah Hockey Club is a new franchise and not a continuation of the Arizona Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise, this was officially the Penguins’ first win against this team.

The Utah Hockey Club won the first meeting between the two opponents, claiming a 6-1 victory at PPG Paints Arena on Nov. 23.

• Penguins forward Boko Imama recorded a fighting major 2:04 into regulation when he fought Utah forward Liam O’Brien. It was the fifth fighting major the Penguins have recorded this season and first since Crosby fought Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor on Nov. 22.

• Grzelyck set a new career high with 27 points (one goal, 26 assists) in 53 games. His previous high-water mark of 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) was established in 75 games with the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season.

• Pettersson (141 points) surpassed forward Vic Hadfield and defenseman Kevin Hatcher (140 points each) for 64th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• Penguins forward Blake Lizotte returned to the lineup after missing three games due to an illness.

• Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi was in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 12. The team assigned him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Jan. 14 and recalled him Monday.

• Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph was in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for two games.

• Penguins forwards Matt Nieto and Philip Tomasino as well as defenseman Ryan Shea were scratched.

• Schmaltz recorded his 400th career point.

• Former Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo is currently designated to Utah’s injured reserve due to an undisclosed ailment that has kept him sidelined for 12 games.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)