Yahoo Sports Yamamoto's Two-Goal Night Lifts Utah HC Past San Jose
Kailer Yamamoto was signed to a professional tryout contract just days before training camp began.
With a week of camp down, Tuesday night's two-goal performance sent a strong message to management about where he wants to be.
Related: Kailer Yamamoto Is Grateful For Another Chance
Yamamoto's two goals in the third period broke a 1-1 tie after defenceman Sean Durzi snapped home a power play goal in the second, and the Utah Hockey Club relied on their defence to bring home a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center.
Despite getting outhit 27 to 15 and seeing 20 shots blocked, Utah was still able to muster enough offence to put away the pesky Sharks, who hemmed the squad in for the final five minutes of the second period.
"Definitely a little nerve-racking coming in," Yamamoto said of his performance. "I think I've been playing pretty well."
Pretty well would be an understatement. A night after seemingly slipping down to the bottom of the lineup, Yamamoto was paired up with Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton on the top line Tuesday, and it led to an offensive eruption in the third period.
It brought back memories of when the forward was at his peak with Edmonton -- and when Tij Iginla was watching him at age 10.
"I was talking to him about that in the locker room," Yamamoto said, laughing. "I said, 'Oh, man, I'm getting up there'."
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