SLC Puck podcast: Utah HC may call upon Stauber during critical trip to Florida

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's playoff dreams took another hit Monday night in a crushing loss to the Detroit Red Wings, pushing their postseason hopes closer to the brink.

Now 8 points behind the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, Utah will need near-perfect hockey down the stretch to keep its playoff chances alive.

The final stretch kicks off with a critical two-game swing through the Sunshine State, facing powerhouse Tampa Bay and the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After 14 consecutive starts — the longest streak in the NHL this season— SLC Puck host Austin Facer anticipates goaltender Karel Vejmelka will rest for at least one of these pivotal matchups.

Eleven games remain in Utah's inaugural season. Facer says the team will have to play each one of these as if it was a Game 7 — and hopefully secure a point or two without "Veggie" in net.

SLC Puck! is a twice-weekly podcast on Utah's hockey scene hosted by local hockey expert Austin Facer. You can subscribe to SLC Puck's YouTube channel here. Facer also co-hosts the NashCast, the Utah Hockey Club's alt-cast starring NHL funnyman Tyson Nash, available exclusively on SEG+ or Utah HC+.

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