Watch: Sean Durzi attacks Connor Murphy, sparks Hawks-Utah scrum for big hit on captain Clayton Keller
Sean Durzi sparked a chaotic scrum during the second period of Tuesday's matchup between the Utah Hockey Club and the Chicago Blackhawks.
The incident unfolded when Blackhawks' Connor Murphy delivered a clean hit on Utah's captain, Clayton Keller. In response to the hit, Sean Durzi rushed in to support his captain and confronted Murphy, leading to a significant on-ice-brawl.
The altercation highlighted the intense emotions present in the game. Players from both teams quickly joined the fray, and the situation escalated rapidly, with multiple players engaging in the melee.
Watch the video here:
In the aftermath of the chaos, the officials penalized the players involved. Murphy received a five-minute major for fighting Durzi, while Durzi also received a five-minute major for his role in the altercation.
Additionally, Keller was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing due to removing Murphy's helmet during the scuffle.
Sean Durzi and Utah HC secure historic win
The Utah Hockey Club secured a historic win after beating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in the season opener at home in Delta Center. This win marked the first for the club in their franchise history.
Logan Cooley notched up two points while Dylan Guenther scored twice, including the first goal in franchise history. Connor Keller made history by becoming the first captain in NHL history to score in a franchise's inaugural game since Kelly Buchberger did so for the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999.
Following the game, Keller emphasized the importance of the first win but quickly shifted focus to the upcoming game (via NHL.com):
"Every team wants to get off to a good start,” Keller said. “This is the best league in the world and you can't take nights off. So, it's great to get the win and now we turn the page and focus on the next game.”
Sean Durzi and the Utah Hockey Club travel to UBS Arena to face the New York Islanders on Thursday.