Utah Loses 5-3 In Another Electric Matchup Against The New York Rangers

As soon as Utah's Matias Maccelli scored only a 1:01 into the game, it was guaranteed that another offensive game was in the works.

But unlike its last game against New York, a game that ended in a high scoring 6-5 overtime win on the road, Utah would come away with yet another home loss.

“I think that we did a lot of good things, to be honest. I’m disappointed; it’s another loss by one shot," said André Tourigny. "The way they scored their two goals in the third period–those things will happen, but I think we deserved better tonight."

Things were looking great for Utah as it scored in the first minute of the second period with Utah's Logan Cooley getting the goal on the power play.

With it being the first power play of the night for both teams, it was really promising that Utah was able to capitalize immediately. In fact, the offense was rolling already with two Maccelli goals in the first, but now both of its stars were getting involved as Utah captain Clayton Keller set up the Cooley goal off an impressive no look pass.

Utah's offense was rolling and it also would shut out the Rangers in the second period despite New York having a two-man advantage for over a minute in the second. Even though Alexander Kerfoot was the second Utah player in the penalty box after unintentionally hitting the puck into the stands, Utah would withstand the intense offensive pressure from New York.

"It's whatever it takes to keep the puck out of your net, how far you're willing to go to make sure that doesn't go in your net," said Cooley. "But we need to win hockey games.”

Even with Utah's successfully killing all three of New York's power plays, the Rangers would start to run away with the game in the third with its own goal in the first minute of a period kicking it off.

Despite Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere getting called for another closing minute penalty, it managed to score shorthanded after Reilly Smith's snap shot went right past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka into the upper corner of the net.

It was only the second time all season that Utah allowed a shorthanded goal.

Related: John Marino Making Debut For Utah Hockey Club Against Montreal

The Rangers would score a second time in the period just after Utah fended off a New York power play. With Utah killing the penalty second prior, New York's Sam Carrick would win the face off and pass it to Chris Kreider, who immediately scored. It would put the Rangers up 4-3 and give it its first lead of the game.

After that, the Rangers wouldn't budge as goalie Igor Shetsterkin would stay strong before New York would eventually get the game sealing goal on Utah's empty net.

"We need to keep working our way through this. And I think if we're able to get through this patch, I think we'll be better off on the backside of it. But right now, we just gotta get through it somehow,” said Utah defenseman Ian Cole.

It was an explosive start to the game as both teams traded goals with each other ending the period in a 2-2 tie. It was Utah who got the lead early after scoring only 61 seconds into game with Maccelli scoring off a rebound from a Barrett Hayton shot.

It was the first of two goals Maccelli would have, both coming in the first period. Great plays by Hayton on both goals would give him two assists as well.

It wouldn't take long for New York to tie it 1-1 off of Artemi Panarin's team leading 19th goal of the season.

But Maccelli would find himself in the right time yet again after Hayton miraculously was able to pass the puck to him.

With three Rangers right in front of him, Hayton managed to shoot the puck through the narrow lane between all of them. With the puck deflecting off the right leg of Shetsterkin in front of him, Maccelli charged forward as both he and the puck ended up in the back of the net for his second goal of the day.

But the strong start that put Utah up 3-2 wouldn't last as New York outscored Utah 3-0 in the third period.

While Utah's offense has better adjusted to absence of Dylan Guenther in its last two games, it has struggled on defense allowing 10 goals over two games.

With a 1-4 home record in its last five home games, Utah is running out of chances to win in its seven game home stand, but with a league worst six wins at home, a roadtrip could end up being the answer to helping this team get back on track.

Entering this game, New York and Utah were both in very similar positions at the midpoint in the season. Both had 43 points coming in and both are trying to snatch the final wildcard spot.

With the Rangers getting the win, it will retain a winning record and get two points closer to the Boston Bruins.

For Utah, its next game will be a home game against the St. Louis Blues, who are coming with two straight home wins against the Calgary Flames.

Can Utah manage to end its home stretch on two wins or will it retain its league worse home win total? Let me know down below.