Hayton's late goal lifts Utah to 2-1 win over Sharks

Hayton’s late goal lifts Utah to 2-1 win over Sharks

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Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton (27) moves the puck against San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) moves the puck against San Jose Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) on the ice during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain (22) moves the puck upice against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) fights for the puck against Utah Hockey Club left wing Matias Maccelli (63) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta (84) moves the puck against Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse (67) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev, bottom right, blocks a shot by Utah Hockey Club left wing Matias Maccelli, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) shoots the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) blocks a shot by the Utah Hockey Club during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) moves the puck against San Jose Sharks left wing Fabian Zetterlund (20) and defenseman Cody Ceci (4) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club players fight against San Jose Sharks players during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club players fight against San Jose Sharks players during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov passes the puck behind him during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov (71) goes after the puck against Utah Hockey Club center Kevin Stenlund (82) and left wing Lawson Crouse, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) falls while going after the puck against San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club defenseman Ian Cole (28) fights for the puck against San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea (53) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

By JOHN COON

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Barrett Hayton snapped home the go-ahead goal with 1:32 left to lift the Utah Hockey Club to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.

Nick Schmaltz also scored for Utah, and Karel Vejmelka finished with 18 saves. Utah won at home for just the third time in 12 games.

Fabian Zetterlund had San Jose’s goal, his 12th of the season. Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves for the Sharks, who dropped their second consecutive game.

Zetterlund’s wrist shot 58 seconds in put San Jose on the board. Utah tied it at 6:57 of the second period on Schmaltz’s 30-foot snap shot.

Utah appeared poised to take its first lead at 3:22 of the third when Clayton Keller drilled a 50-foot snap shot. Keller’s goal was waved off following a replay challenge from the Sharks, after officials ruled Schmaltz interfered with Georgiev moments before the shot.

The score stayed tied until Hayton curled a long-distance drive past Georgiev late in the third.

Takeaways

Sharks: San Jose failed to score multiple goals in a road game for the first time in a month.

Utah: Good defense helped Utah stay within striking distance after giving up a first-minute goal.

Key moment

Hayton’s eighth goal saved Utah from going to overtime with the Sharks for the second time this season.

Key stat

San Jose had only three shots on goal in the second period.

Up next

San Jose hosts the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.

Utah continues a seven-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl