Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Liam O'Brien immediately won the hearts of Utah Hockey Club fans when he memorably introduced himself as "Spicy Tuna" in April.
"I cannot wait to get this place buzzing!" the forward screamed over thunderous applause at the Delta Center.
Just like that, he was part of Utah Hockey Club lore. His energetic speech inspired fan-made shirts, team marketing campaigns and custom jerseys — not bad for someone seen mostly as an energy-type fourth-liner for most of his career.
But all those new fans haven't had much of a chance to cheer for their hero.
O'Brien, who played 75 games last year with the Arizona Coyotes, has skated just twice at the Delta Center this season. Utah's forward started the season on a fortuitous streak of good health, and O'Brien happened to be the odd man out.
Until now …
A team-wide flu finally got the Tuna back on the frozen water.
"It feels good to be back playing, and it's been a lot of fun," O'Brien said.
His presence has brought a sudden uptick in production for the likes of Lawson Crouse and Matias Maccelli, who snapped long scoring droughts last week.
"I've always been an energy guy trying to be physical and bring that aspect to the team," said O'Brien, who's led the team in hits in two of the last three games. "And when I'm bringing that, I think all the other stuff kind of falls into place."
For him and others.
Crouse scored twice against Calgary when O'Brien was added to his line, and Maccelli followed suit the next game when he combined with new linemates.
Coincidence? Maybe. But head coach André Tourigy is keeping the lines together for at least Wednesday's game against Florida. And that means O'Brien will skate on home ice for the first time since Oct. 28.
"It's not easy when you're not playing," Tourigny said. "Every day he showed up with the objective to get better, leading the charge in the skill (work), leading the charge in the gym, leading the charge in video, asking questions, wanting to really be better."
After two months of waiting, he's getting the chance to show that in games.
"I prepared all summer long. I train hard," he said. "I'm on the ice all the time. We've got skills coaches. We've got great staff in the gym. So we've got everything we need to stay ready — there's no reason to not be."
The plan for Connor Ingram
Connor Ingram's return may be getting closer.
Ingram, who hasn't played since Nov. 18 due to an upper-body injury, was assigned to the Tuscon Roadrunners on a conditioning loan last Tuesday. The loan can last for a maximum of 14 days.
"He missed quite a bit of time. Not just missing time in terms of his injury, but practice time and conditioning time and stuff like that," Tourigny said. "So for him to go back there and have some action, practice and games, I think it's amazing."
With practices so limited at the NHL level, the loan will give Ingram a chance to get additional reps as he continues his recovery.
"Over there, he has more practice time, more shots, longer practice," Tourigny said. "For him to have a chance to go to Tucson and playing and practicing and having reps and having to push himself, that's great."
So what's the plan for the goaltender rotation for when he eventually makes his return?
"I don't know if I will be alive then," Tourigny joked. "That's way too far for me."
John Marino sheds non-contact jersey
Defenseman John Marino had surgery on his lower-back in October. On Monday, he was practicing with a regluar jersey on. It was the second straight practice that Marino hasn't had to wear the yellow non-contact sweater.
"He's on schedule," Tourigny said. "It's coming, we're talking — not this week, but it's coming."
That's good news for a blue line that has been rocked by injuries this season. Marino and Sean Durzi both underwent surgery in October, and Robert Bortuzzo was placed on injured reserve on Saturday with a lower-body injury.
"It's too bad becuase he helped us so much being predictable, communication on the ice, experience on the bench, his presence on the bench, just the way communicate, and his leadership," Tourigny said of Bortuzzo.
To help with the latest injury, Utah claimed former New Jersey Devil defenseman Nick DeSimone off waivers on Sunday. DeSimone, 30, has played in 34 games this season recording two goals and five assists.
"Good skater. He's been around the league — had a few stints here and there. So it's good to have someone with experience. He moved well today in practice. I think it's good depth to have for us," Tourigny said.
The illness in the locker room
Clayton Keller and Matias Maccelli both missed games over the four-game road trip due to an illness that has made its way around the team. But things are starting to look up in that area.
"It's still there, but it's under control more than it was a few days ago," Tourigny said. "I won't jinx it, but it's better today, let's put it that way."
It should help that the team won't be spending so much time together, too.
Utah will begin a seven-game home stand on Wednesday, giving the team a chance to rest and maybe even change the narrative around its home luck. The Club has won just one of its last eight games at the Delta Center.
"I think having that opportunity to be home, to be with our people, that will help," Tourigny said. "I think a road trip is always good, but we've had our share, you know what I mean? When we arrived on Sunday morning, it was good just to settle, get home and go to grocery, not for just a sandwich, but for planning for a full week, that was great."
