“Welcome to the party”: Schmaltz and Stauber help Utah HC to its first shutout in Vegas

PARADISE, Nevada – “Welcome to the Party Schmaltzy!”

Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Hockey Club, posted on social media platform

The goals were the first of the season for Schmaltz, although the 28-year-old forward from Wisconsin leads Utah with 17 assists.

“It comes in waves,” Schmaltz said of his goals. “Once you have one, maybe the floodgates open and things jump your way. Hopefully this opens up a little bit for me and I get a little bit more.”

A freshly trimmed mustache for Schmaltz added to the party atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena as the hockey club took its place in the Vegas net with four goals in the first period and two in the second period, matching its season best in a 6-0 – 0 win.

The “welcome to the party” might as well have applied to goaltender Jaxson Stauber, who earned the first shutout in Utah Hockey Club history in his first start after being called up from the Tucson Roadrunners just 10 days ago was.

Stauber stopped 29 of the Knights’ shots, keeping the Pacific Division leaders to zero goals for the second time this season.

“It feels unreal, something you dream about as a kid,” Stauber said of the shutout. “I have to give my teammates a lot of credit tonight.”

Ontario native Michael Carcone also scored his first goal in a Utah sweater to make it 5-0 in the second period, while Clayton Keller, Alexander Kerfoot and Logan Cooley scored the other three goals.

Cooley’s goal extended his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists), making it the longest streak of his NHL career and the longest of any Utah player this season.

The win moves Utah to 10-10-4 on the season and also gives the club its first win over regional rival Vegas after losing the first two meetings in the three-game season series.

The Hockey Club returns home for its first-ever meeting against the Dallas Stars before heading out again for a two-game road trip to Buffalo and Philadelphia.