Game one: Outliers defeat MJDP

Utah began it's National Championship run with a lot to prove heading into game one of its round-robin series in New Hampshire. The Outliers find themselves in arguably the toughest bracket in the tournament with stiff competition to face. The team has been undefeated in playoffs thus far and was looking to continue that hot streak against its latest opponent. 

Game one had Utah facing the MJDP. This was sure to be a good test for the Outliers as they were coming off a long and tough travel schedule to get to New Hampshire. Utah would get off to a quick start in this game and never look back as they defeated the MJDP by a score of 4-1 and picked up their first win at Nationals. 

The first goal and only goal of the opening period belonged to the Outliers. Off an offensive zone entry into the MJDP zone. Nick Urtis was able to take control of the puck and make a centering pass to teammate Parker Williams who was left all alone at the front of the net. Williams took the pass from Urtis and rifled his shot into the top corner of the net. past the MJDP goaltender. This gave Utah a 1-0 lead and it would stay that way the rest of the first frame. 

In the second period, Utah struck quickly to extend its lead to 2-0 when the team scored just 23 seconds into the period. Outliers forward, Nicholas Schwab gained control of the puck low in the MJDP zone and kicked out a centering pass to Leyton Pettypiece who blasted his shot under the crossbar and past the goaltender. 

Utah's lead was broken in half as the MJDP picked up a goal of its own while playing with the man advantage. The MJDP moved the puck around the Outliers zone and eventually opened up some space for defenseman Alex Blankenship to walk down an open lane on the right side of the zone and bury his shot to make it 2-1. 

The Outliers got back to work and began to once again impose their will on the MJDP. Their relentless offensive pressure would eventually pay off back and Nick Urtis would give his team another two-goal lead. Donovan Burdette would get the play started when he took control of the puck off an offensive zone entry and while being pressured feed a lateral pass to Nick Urtis all alone on the backdoor. Urtis would make no mistake and deposit his shot past the MJDP goaltender for a 3-1 Utah lead. 

The third period went back and forth with both teams pressing for another goal. At 14:02 of the final frame, it was Matthew Koepke taking control of the puck at the blue line and placing a floating shot at the net that was tipped by Outliers forward Nicholas Obourn.

The clock would eventually wind down and the buzzer sound with Utah defeating the MJDP by a score of 4-1. The Outliers looked sharp in their first game at nationals and increased their win streak to 9 games.

Parker Williams was awarded the USPHL player of the game in this contest for Utah as he had the team;s first goal and played a big role in helping his team skate off with the victory.

Game two is tomorrow at 6:15 EST as the Outliers take on the Charlotte Rush. The game will be live-streamed on HockeyTV.com.