Opinion: Thriving Utah Hockey Club Should Settle For Nothing Less Than A Playoff Spot

As a team to watch in particular this season, the Utah Hockey Club has definitely delivered an emotional roller-coaster ride to its fans. Through 32 games, Utah has a 16-11-5 record – good enough for fifth spot in the Central Division. They’re oh-so-close to occupying the fourth-place spot in the division, as they trail the Dallas Stars by only a single standings point, and they have three games in hand on the third-place Avs. Additionally, they are also just one point back of a wild-card playoff spot in the West behind the Canucks and Stars who currently sit even at 38 points apiece.

For many reasons, Utah has to be pushing for a playoff spot and adding talent by the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline. For one thing, you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and earning Stanley Cup playoff hockey in their first year in Salt Lake City will showcase to fans the increased passion always on display in playoff games. And the Vegas Golden Knights have shown that a team can capitalize on its playoff aspirations by (a) making the playoffs to begin with in their first year, and (b) going on a lengthy post-season run once the team gets there. That’s the journey Utah should be striving to make. And if that means they need to acquire some experienced veterans at the deadline to shepherd the way toward post-season action, so be it.

Utah’s first season started out with a couple of stumbles – at one point, they went 3-8-2 from mid-October through mid-November – but since Nov. 24, they’ve gone 8-2-2. In their past 10 games, they’ve gone 7-1-2 and they’ve won five of their past six games, including wins over Minnesota, Philadelphia, Colorado, San Jose and Vancouver. Utah’s offense was consistently doing its job, scoring four goals or more in four of their past six games. But they also have been great on defense, limiting opponents to two goals or fewer in seven of Utah's eight most recent wins.

Utah has a tougher go of it schedule-wise this week, as they’ve got Anaheim and Dallas back-to-back on Sunday and Monday respectively, followed by a tilt with Colorado on Friday. Utah needs to emerge with at least a couple of points against these teams, and possibly more than that. The Avalanche and Stars aren’t going to roll over for anybody. Utah’s going to have to earn it.

Utah’s offense is thriving, their defense is doing its part and their road record of 11-6-2 is impressive. If they can improve on their current home mark of 5-5-3, the time is now for the squad's young core of players to step up and lock down their opponents through this important stretch. And if they squander the opportunity, you'd better believe that will leave a sour taste in the mouths of Utah fans.

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If they can hang around the fourth-place spot in the Central, Utah has the chance to do some serious damage in the standings – and they just might qualify for a playoff berth. This next stretch could be the defining statement on their season. And if they can win a good deal more games than they lose, Utah could secure a playoff spot.

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