The Ogden Mustangs moved to 8-0 this season with two wins over the Utah Outliers last weekend.
Both victories required comebacks as the Mustangs won 2-1 Friday in Ogden and 4-3 Saturday in West Valley.
In Friday's game, the Outliers opened the scoring early in the second period on a partial breakaway. The Mustangs came back with a powerplay goal from Shane Gilbert seven minutes later.
Just 1:18 after that, Caleb Dolman added a shorthanded goal for the Mustangs. Dolman's goal stood as the game-winner. It was his second game-winning goal this season.
It was a defensive battle for the rest of the game, as both teams' goaltenders made big saves. Mason Palmer picked up the win in goal for Ogden, facing 24 shots.
In Saturday's game, both teams' offenses got going a little more. The Mustangs opened the scoring this time, with a Bryson Bartell powerplay goal just 2:25 into the game. Five of Bartell's seven goals this season have come on the powerplay. The Outliers answered back with two, late first-period goals to go up 2-1. It was all Mustangs in the second period as Zach Pires scored a goal in transition off of a two-on-two, Shane Gilbert scored a four-on-four goal with a nice drive to the front of the net and then Gilbert added a shorthanded goal off of a steal behind the net, finishing with a backhand roof job. The Outliers added one more goal in the third period, but it was too little, too late. Palmer picked up the W in goal for this one as well, this time making 31 saves.
"Last weekend was a better measuring stick for us and showed us that we still have room to improve," said Ogden head coach Jake Laime. "Wins are wins, and we're happy to get them, but we can't be satisfied knowing there’s a lot that needs to be addressed. Our neutral zone was exposed, and we struggled on both sides of the puck with consistency. It was our first series where we really had resistance, through, so it is positive that we found ways to win."
The Mustangs remain in first place overall in the Western States Hockey League with 24 points. They are one of only four remaining teams with perfect records in the 22-team league, the others being the expansion Las Vegas Thunderbirds (5-0), the Oklahoma City Blazers (3-0) and the Southern Oregon Spartans (2-0).
With three more goals last weekend, Gilbert continues to lead the Mustangs in scoring, and is second overall in WSHL scoring, with 22 points.
Ogden Top 10 Scorers:
Shane Gilbert - 22 points
Gleb Krivoshapkin - 17 points
Caleb Dolman - 15 points
Oliver Wieringa - 14 points
Johan Zöllner - 14 points
Bryson Bartell - 13 points
Ramil Talipov - 13 points
Zach Pires - 12 points
Aidan McAleer - 9 points
Ethan McKinley - 9 points
The Ogden offense is going to be bolstered even more going forward with news of the return of Lukas Vacin back to the team this week.
This weekend the Mustangs head on their first road trip of many to the northwest this season. They'll face the 2-0 Southern Oregon Spartans for three games in Medford, Oregon. The Spartans played their first two games of the season at home last weekend, defeating the West Sound Admirals twice.
The Mustangs are on the road again the following two weekends before returning home for their next home series, Nov. 15-17, when the Spartans will come to Ogden. The home games will feature Military Appreciation Night and Movie Night. Be sure to join and share our event page to help us pack the house.