{"id":461513,"date":"2025-01-25T20:22:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T01:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=461513"},"modified":"2025-01-25T21:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T02:22:32","slug":"centres-play-improving-in-second-line-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/01\/25\/centres-play-improving-in-second-line-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah Hockey Club Centre’s Play Improving In Second Line Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

After many games of struggling, the Utah Hockey Club<\/a> decided it was time to change up the team\u2019s second line. The injury to Dylan Guenther<\/a> complicated things, while Josh Doan<\/a> was recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners to take his place. Also, Matias Maccelli<\/a> earned promotion to the line after being stuck in the bottom-six due to his own struggles. However, the recent stand out of the second line has been Utah centre Barrett Hayton<\/a>. The former fifth overall pick in 2018 has found a groove with Maccelli and Doan as his wingmen. He’ll need to continue playing this way with Utah still in the hunt for a wild card spot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change is Good<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With Utah winning three of its last four games, Hayton has played a prominent role during the span. Prior to that, Hayton couldn\u2019t find his footing on Utah\u2019s top line, even with the likes of Clayton Keller<\/a> and Nick Schmaltz<\/a> by his side. Although he was demoted to the second line, Hayton has picked up his play in recent games. He has eight points in the last five games, four goals and four assists. Two of the four goals were game-winners in back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets<\/a> and Minnesota Wild<\/a> respectively. He leads Utah in that category with five.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f BARRETT HAYTON! WE'RE TIED AT 2. pic.twitter.com\/gXXYHfjiAt<\/a><\/p>\n

— Utah Mammoth (@utahhockeyclub) January 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n