Utah Hockey Club vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions December 2nd 2024

Utah Looking for Second Straight Win as It Hosts Stars

The Utah Hockey Club aims to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the season with three straight victories when it hosts the Dallas Stars on Monday evening.

Utah Riding Momentum After Dominant Win

Utah is coming off a 6-0 shutout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, its most commanding performance of its inaugural season. The win snapped multiple scoring droughts for key players and showcased a more aggressive style of play.

“We’re a fast team and I think we have our most success when we have the puck on our sticks and we’re making plays,” Utah forward Clayton Keller said. “We’re not sitting back and waiting for them to come to us. It’s a step in the right direction for us moving forward.”

Breaking Scoring Droughts

Forwards Nick Schmaltz and Michael Carcone both scored their first goals of the season in the win over Vegas. Head coach Andre Tourigny was pleased to see the offensive breakthroughs.

“It was good to have Schmaltz get the monkey off his back, Carcone get the monkey off his back,” Tourigny said. “Those two guys are important point producers for us.”

Schmaltz, who has tallied at least 22 goals in each of the past two seasons, acknowledged the relief of breaking his slump.

“Kind of a little sigh of relief, feel a little lighter once you see one go in,” Schmaltz said. “Hopefully, that can bring more confidence to my game and more goals.”

Keller also ended a 12-game goal-less streak, emphasizing the value of perseverance during tough stretches.

“That’s when you learn the most about yourself, when things aren’t going your way,” Keller said. “It’s how you respond, how you get better every single day. It might take longer than you want, but those are the times you learn the most.”

Stars Seek Consistency After Solid Performance

Dallas is coming off a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon. The Stars rallied with three unanswered goals from Wyatt Johnston, Mason Marchment, and Roope Hintz after Winnipeg opened the scoring. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves in the win.

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In the second game of a back-to-back set, Casey DeSmith is expected to start in goal for Dallas. DeSmith had a rough November, losing all three of his starts, including a 6-2 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks last Wednesday in which he allowed six goals on 26 shots.

Power Play Improvement in Focus

The Stars’ power play struggled against Winnipeg, going 0-for-5 despite showing promise in a 2-for-4 performance against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Head coach Pete DeBoer noted the challenge posed by Winnipeg’s standout goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck.

“We got some really good looks, including a breakaway by Roope, so sometimes you have to tip your hat to the goalie on the other team,” DeBoer said. “I thought despite the fact we didn’t score on it, it felt more dangerous than it did a week ago, and we’ve got to continue to build on that.”

Key Players to Watch

• Utah: Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Michael Carcone will look to build on their breakout performances from Saturday. Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, coming off a shutout, could play a pivotal role.
• Dallas: Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston have been consistent offensive contributors, while Casey DeSmith will aim to bounce back after a tough month.

Game Outlook

Utah’s aggressive playstyle and newfound confidence following their win against Vegas will be tested against a Dallas team looking to sharpen its consistency and power play. Both teams have an opportunity to build momentum, making this matchup a crucial one.