Recap: Lehkonen hat trick lifts Colorado over Utah 4-1

5 days ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Photo by Tyler Tate/Getty Images


After a much-needed four day holiday break, the Colorado Avalanche traveled west to visit Utah Hockey Club for one more game to conclude the season series. As per usual, the games against Hockey Club are a tight affair and this one felt no different. Despite the 4-1 Avalanche final score it was tied until just over five minutes to go and then Artturi Lehkonen crafted his first career hat trick.
The Game
It felt like a game coming off of a break for both teams as there was some sloppiness in play for both teams and no score. At least some shots were generated with the Avalanche holding a 14-11 advantage after 20 minutes of play.
Finally at 11:22 in the second period Artturi Lehkonen broke through for the visitors. He put on a beautiful top on a shot by Nathan MacKinnon to get Colorado on the board. MacKinnon had an eventful period as he had a sort of fight against Barrett Hayton after a scrum at the end boards. It was more of a takedown and no damage done. At the end of 40 minutes of play it was still 1-0 for the Avalanche.
Utah broke through on their power play early in the third period from Nick Schmaltz at 3:42. Then it was a tight game through most of the third period as Utah poured on 17 shots on goal as they looked for the go-ahead goal. That score would never materialize but instead Lehkonen took a great feed from Val Nichuskin to deposit his second goal of the night at 14:44 and put the Avalanche back ahead.
Utah pulled Krel Vejmelka soon after and Colorado made quick work of the empty net. First Mikko Rantanen scored his 20th goal of the season at 18:10 and then when Utah vacated their net again Lehkonen was able to take advantage at 19:34 for his first career hat track and the 4-1 final Avalanche win.


Takeaways
Mackenzie Blackwood had a good night in celebration of his new five-year contract extension. He stopped 34 of 35 Utah shots as the Avalanche continue to give up more shot volume in front of their new franchise goaltender.
On Lehkonen’s first goal defenseman Sam Malinski picked up a secondary assist. It was just his fifth point on the season and first since the November 9th game against Carolina. Despite his generally solid play Malinski’s time on ice is heavily regulated and he played a meager 10:35 in this contest. Something to monitor moving forward.
The Givani Smith experiment needs to end. There’s no need to keep justifying a trade throw-in. He played a team-low 4:38 and still managed to commit a penalty. Smith generated a 5% expected goals share in this game and has a team-low 20.39% in his seven games with Colorado. Enough is enough.
Upcoming
Another three-day break and then a meeting with the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena on New Year’s Eve at 6 p.m. MT....

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