Sidney Crosby introduced himself to the Salt Lake City crowd for the first time.
The Pittsburgh Penguin — and future hall-of-famer — drove the puck down the left wing and right to the net before back-handing it in for the overtime winner Wednesday night at Delta Center.
Utah Hockey Club’s 3-2 loss showcased both one of the best players in the league and some of its own worst flaws. Namely, the inability to close out third periods.
Utah has now lost three consecutive games — and gave them all up in the final frame. The Club went into Wednesday’s third period leading 2-1 and lost in overtime after allowing two goals against. On Sunday in Ottawa, the game was tied 1-1 in the third until the Senators scored twice and Utah fell 3-1. In the 5-2 loss to Winnipeg on Friday, the Club tied things 2-2 early in the third before giving up three goals.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) looks to pass down the ice during the second period of the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Why has this become a pattern?
“If I had the answer it probably wouldn’t be happening,” Michael Carcone said. “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
What will it take for Utah to finally learn from its mistakes?
“I don’t know. Time. A tough loss, tougher than the ones that we had before,” Mikhail Sergachev said. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know what it’s going to take.”
It seems the team, now six points out of a playoff spot, needs to find a new way to turn. Players like Sergachev — who is in the alternate captain rotation — have placed the responsibility on themselves.
“I’m one of the players on this team and I’m in this. It takes everyone,” Sergachev said. “I think the leadership group and the coaches are doing everything we can to try to turn it around. We can’t be too negative about it, but we can’t be just ‘whatever, next one.’ It can’t be like that.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club left wing Michael Carcone (53) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) crash into the glass during the second period of the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Wednesday was Sergachev’s first time back in the lineup in five games after he was sidelined with an upper-body injury.
The defenseman reclaimed his spot on the first power-play unit and quickly made an impact. Nick Schmaltz dished a back-handed pass to Sergachev in the high slot where he lasered it past Penguins’ goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for the 1-0 lead at 14:51.
Sergachev finished the night with a team-leading 25:57 of total ice time, one goal, three shots and four blocks.
“He has a lot of character,” head coach André Tourigny said. “He takes ownership and he doesn’t shy away from responsibility. He’s a winner. He’s won before so he knows what it takes and he believes in that group. He wants to win.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (24) crash into the glass during the second period of the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Sergachev had a new partner in John Marino on the first pair. Previously, Sergachev had been playing with Olli Määttä when Marino was still sidelined with injury, but the imagined duo finally came to fruition on Wednesday.
“He’s very easy to play with,” Sergachev said of Marino. “He’s very poised with the puck, very good on breakouts. And without the puck, he knows where to put his body and how to play the right way.”
The Penguins found the 1-1 equalizer in the second period. Utah could not gain control of the puck in its defensive zone before it popped out to Marcus Pettersson at the point to blast in at 6:40.
Pittsburgh continued to push and ended the middle frame with 15 shots on goal to Utah’s seven. But, Carcone’s breakaway goal gave his team some breathing room ahead of the third.
Carcone utilized his speed and dashed up center ice as he intercepted a stretch pass from Marino. The forward went off on the breakaway and knocked in the rebound of his initial shot for the 2-1 advantage at 8:36. The play marked Carcone’s fourth goal of the season and first since Dec. 14 as he’s been in and out of the lineup.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) scores as Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram (39) tries to defend during overtime in the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Erik Karlsson made it 2-2 at 6:17 of the third after Schmaltz turned the puck over in transition while trying to get it up ice. Instead, it flipped to the right side of Utah’s O-zone and onto Karlsson’s stick. The defenseman released a snap shot that beat Connor Ingram and ultimately forced overtime.
“I think we just have to finish it off. They get one in the third and win it in overtime. If we can keep the lead in the third then that would’ve been great obviously. Seems to be happening quite a bit.”
Crosby’s overtime winner closed what was an overall lackluster showing from Utah through 60-plus minutes. The three games at Delta Center will have to be a gut check for the Club.
“It’s a tough one, obviously,” Sergachev said. “But I feel like it’s happened before. Multiple times. And we haven’t learned from it.”
