SALT LAKE CITY – With their backs still against the wall amidst a competitive push for the post season, the Utah Hockey Club demonstrated maturity in high-scoring 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite two overturned goals and 10 total between the two teams, Utah responded at every turn to secure two critical points in the standings.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s win over the Lightning.
As the Utah Hockey Club continues to desperately push for a playoff spot, they’ve discovered something fierce with Josh Doan, Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain on the third line.
Lacking size amongst most of their forwards, Utah’s third line presents a unique style of hockey that they’ve been in dire need of all season.
Harsh, physical, in your face, suffocating hockey on both ends of the ice.
JOSH DOAN SCORES AND UTAH LEADS 1-0!!!!!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
As demonstrated by Doan’s goal to open the scoring against Tampa, the trio excels at getting pucks in deep, battling in the dirty areas, applying suffocating pressure and finding ways to bash the frozen biscuit into the back of the net.
The third line is playing SO good as of late.
Ever since Doan and McBain joined Crouse, I don’t know that they’ve been outworked many shifts.
Great work from McBain to dig in deep and perfect positioning from Doan. https://t.co/hEbtKNg0r4
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
Having a ferocious and hard-working line is a necessity in the National Hockey League.
A group that instills fear into the opposition, keeps them in check and sets tone every time they stop onto the ice.
“They [Crouse, McBain, & Doan] make a huge difference,” Tourigny said. “Their pace, their physicality, their forecheck.”
When you play dirty, you’re going to answer for it.
McBain let him have it for what he did to Kesselring.pic.twitter.com/iBE4hbKzKF
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
For the game, the trio combined for 16 of Utah’s 23 hits and three total points.
Clearly, they understand their role and have fully embraced it.
After a stretch of six-games (season-high) without a single point, Logan Cooley has caught fire recently with four goals and two assists over the last four matchups.
To break out of a slump is one thing but to completely flip the script and erupt for seven points in short order is vastly different.
Perfect example of why you always crash the net.
Cooley was ready for that one. https://t.co/WjMJCpxCVn
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
Scoreless for 6 games then scores 4 goals in 4 games.
Budding superstar? https://t.co/HSHcQTZPPT
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
When you watch how Cooley plays the game, he’s a remarkably smart player with incredible skill and a fearless approach.
On his first goal of the night against the Lightning, Cooley wisely trailed Michael Kesselring, crashed the net, prepared for a rebound and tucked the puck away.
As for the second, he battled for position in front of the goaltender and somehow managed to tip one in from a distance.
No. 92 simply possesses that X-factor that makes a skater extra special. In addition to his talent, he owns an unteachable level of competitiveness that drives him to be elite.
“Just try to get as good as I can be and become the player I want to be. It comes back to the team & trying to get into the playoffs and eventually winning a cup,” Logan Cooley said.
“That’s the biggest drive for me right now. Being in Utah, it’s special.”
Logan Cooley on what drives him:
“Just try to get as good as I can be & become the player I want to be. It comes back to the team & trying to get into the playoffs & eventually winning a cup.”
“That’s the biggest drive for me right now. Being in Utah, it’s special.” pic.twitter.com/vzxVY5HDi8
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 23, 2025
For now, Cooley clearly has star potential.
But with more time and development he just might be a budding superstar.
“You don’t put a lid on the ceiling. He [Cooley] needs to keep working at being the best version of himself and push his own limit,” Andre Tourigny said.
“Who am I to put a lid on a competitor like that?”
The lamp was lit 12 times during Utah’s matchup with Tampa Bay and while only 10 of them counted as two were overturned, Utah maturely responded at every key moment to walk away with another win on home ice.
Despite the final score reading 6-4 in favor of Utah, getting a win against the Lightning was anything but easy.
With nearly 20 percent of the 51 total shots finding the back of the net, emerging victorious required an incredible amount of resilience.
Not only was Utah forced to tie their season-high in goals (6), but with two goals overturned by successful Tampa Bay challenges, the club had to remain steady to pick up another pair of precious points.
Confirmed. No goal.
Score remains 5-4. Tampa’s video team is 2/2 tonight. https://t.co/IzGtfgptLJ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 22, 2025
“Next shift. When you give a goal, you score a goal. It was not easy in the second period,” Tourigny said.
“That’s where our team grew. That’s where our team is capable of weathering the storm here and there.”
Like Tourigny mentioned, today’s result was another example of growth.
Not just because they beat a talented hockey team, but their ability to respond to a massive amount of adversity with their backs against the wall in desperate need of two points was huge.
A year ago, and maybe even four months ago, Utah likely doesn’t win that hockey game.
But right now, they’ve unlocked a new level and are playing their most mature hockey down the stretch.
“It’s day and night. I think that the mindset, the composure, the assertiveness, you cannot even compare. I think our team grew a lot, and I think we have way more maturity now,” Tourigny said.
The Utah Hockey Club will host the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Delta Center. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
