3 Key Carolina Hurricanes Takeaways: Major power play failure, scoring struggles with Vejmelka's 49 saves and more from 4-1 loss to Utah HC

The Carolina Hurricanes traveled to Salt Lake City for the first time in their history, to take on the Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes.

Entering with an impressive 11-3 record, Carolina was hoping to take advantage of the inconsistent Utah HC. However, the hosts turned the tables.

Not only did goaltender Karel Vejmelka turn in a career-best 49-save performance, but Utah's special teams paved the way for what was a 4-1 victory, improving their record to 7-6-1. Meanwhile, Carolina dropped to 11-4.

Late in the first period, Nick Bjugstad opened the scoring with his first tally of the season to give Utah the 1-0 lead. While Carolina would knot the score at 1-1 midway through the second period, the floodgates opened for Utah in the third period.

Goals from Jack McBain, Mikail Sergachev and the second tally of the game from Bjugstad in a period of less than 2:20 sealed Carolina's fate.

Pyotr Kochetkov was victimized for three goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Spencer Martin, who yielded one goal on three shots.

Here's a closer look at three major takeaways from Utah's first-ever win over Carolina.

3 key takeaways from Carolina Hurricanes' 4-1 loss to Utah Hockey Club

#3. Multiple giveaways proved disastrous

Not only did Carolina not score more than one goal, but they also didn't take care of the puck with 19 turnovers.

Careless puck play is what can make the difference between a true contender and a pretender, and unfortunately for Carolina, things didn't work as they were hoping.

#2. Carolina's special teams failed them

The Hurricanes had a golden opportunity when Utah forward Michael Carcone was sent to the penalty box for seven minutes - five for fighting and another two for instigating - and the chance got even bigger when Utah's Maveric Lamoureux was whistled for hooking.

It was all for naught. The Hurricanes failed to beat Vejmelka during the extended man advantage, and will surely be lamenting the missed chance that played a key role in their defeat.

#1. Hurricanes were stymied by a career performance from Vejmelka

Carolina fired 50 shots on Vejmelka, who was nearly impenetrable throughout the game as he frustrated them by turning aside everything they could throw at him.

The Czech goaltender was the subject of trade rumors last season but has mostly played well in 2024-25. His performance against Carolina will go down as a career highlight for him, and he made a clear cast to get more starts between the pipes.

The Carolin Hurricanes are in action again when they host the Ottawa Senators at PNC Park on Saturday.