VANCOUVER, British Columbia – With their backs against the wall amidst a tight race for the final wild card spot, the Utah Hockey Club claimed their biggest win of the season over the Vancouver Canucks. Breaking out of his scoring slump, Logan Cooley found the back of the net in a moment of desperation for Utah with the game-winner to secure two massive points in regulation.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s most important win of the season.
While the game in Vancouver was incredibly physical and both teams served a plethora of penalties, Utah was the victim of a very questionable call in the second period.
After Michael Carcone received the puck on the right side of the offensive zone, he went directly at the net to generate a scoring opportunity.
However, with a defender draped all over him, Carcone ended up bumping into goaltender Kevin Lankinen which resulted in an overturned goal after Dylan Guenther snuck a rebound into the back of the net.
But should Carcone’s actions have been deemed goaltender interference?
Very questionable call here by the referee.
Carcone was pushed from behind into the crease. What on earth is he supposed to do in that situation? https://t.co/E2eGtS5U41
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
According to the NHL, a goal can be overturned if an attacking player enters the goal crease and, by his actions, impairs the goaltender’s ability to defend his net.
By definition, Carcone did enter the crease and impaired the goaltender from making a save on Guenther’s shot.
But he was also obviously pushed from behind and not fully in control of his body or actions.
Now, am I surprised that this was called? No. But it was more the execution of the call and clearly a lack of consideration for why Carcone bumped into Lankinen.
What would the officials have him do in that situation?
He’s allowed to attack the net and cannot be expected to leap out of the way in that scenario when an opposing player shoves him into the blue paint.
No goal due to goaltender interference. https://t.co/YmJD0Vp0i7
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
While Utah was able to overcome the questionable call, it matched the theme of debatable officiating in favor of Vancouver for most of the night.
I guess Keller shouldn’t have fallen down here? https://t.co/99wSXkcPZz
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
Ever since Logan Cooley returned from injury, he hasn’t quite been the same No. 92 that fans were accustomed to earlier in the season.
Not that he’s been playing poorly by any means, but he hasn’t possessed the same ferocity or zip in his stride.
In the 10 games since he returned to the ice, Cooley has experienced his most significant slump of the season with just three goals and two assists.
However, despite his struggles, Cooley managed to score the most important game-winner to this point in the season as he finally broke through and gave his team a crucial lead early in the third period against Vancouver.
Brilliance from Cooley.
Watch him drift towards the net on the weak side. HELL of a shot too. Made that look easy.
2-1 Utah https://t.co/aXwsDYat6N
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
“It’s awesome. It truly does feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders now,” Cooley said.
“I can just play & get back to what I was doing that makes me successful & not thinking too much.”
Logan Cooley on the relief of scoring against Vancouver: “It’s awesome. It truly does feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders now.”
“I can just play & get back to what I was doing that makes me successful & not thinking too much.”#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/AM0zVDsFhV
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
While the team desperately needed to leave Vancouver with two points in regulation, Cooley also needed to see one go in after experiencing a six-game scoring drought (second-longest of the season).
With every game basically a do-or-die playoff situation at this point, Utah needs No. 92 to be playing with as much confidence as possible and Sunday’s goal certainly helped
“When you talk to him about being patient, he looks at you like you look at your grandfather when he tells you stories about ‘the old days.’ He has no time for that. He wants right here, right now. He wants to make a difference,” Andre Tourigny said.
“It reminds me four years ago when I was talking to Kells…I love his compete level.”
Big players come through in big moments. No matter the team, no matter the situation, no matter what struggles they may be experiencing.
Big time players find a way and Cooley delivered at the most opportune time of the season.
The team that wore Utah across the front of their sweater on Sunday night in Vancouver is certainly not the same team that began the season in Salt Lake City on October 8, 2024.
While that may seem like an obvious observation, Sunday’s win demonstrated significant growth in areas that have plagued Utah throughout the season.
First of all, Utah never once looked rattled. Regardless of the pressure by Vancouver, whether physical or offensively, Utah remained composed throughout the entire 60 minutes.
Additionally, despite a collection of questionable penalties and allowing a power play goal in the second, Utah was fearless on the PK when it mattered most and got the job done.
“Our experience showed,” Tourigny said.
“I thought that was one of our better games under pressure. The way we reacted – they tried to push us around in the first period and we called their bluff. We stayed composed and we played really well the rest of the game.”
Not only did Utah’s more inexperienced players rise to the occasion, but Utah’s veterans demonstrated their value, and the reasons Bill Armstrong brought them in.
The composure of Mikhail Sergachev, Olli Maatta and John Marino held down the blue line.
The tenacity of Kevin Stenlund and the fourth line brought the game level.
Meanwhile, the experience of Alexander Kerfoot and Ian Cole fortified the PK late as they refused to allow the Canucks any dangerous chances.
“I think we’ve been pretty good, pretty resilient the last stretch,” Kerfoot said.
“Everything doesn’t have to be perfect all the time, but we have to be resilient enough & believe in ourselves enough…it brings us right back into the mix.”
Alexander Kerfoot: “I think we’ve been pretty good, pretty resilient the last stretch.”
“Everything doesn’t have to be perfect all the time, but we have to be resilient enough & believe in ourselves enough…it brings us right back into the mix.” pic.twitter.com/nyOKKe9881
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 17, 2025
To quote coach Tourigny from earlier in the season, “The baby is growing.”
But sooner rather than later, that baby just might grow into a full-fledged adult that takes the league by storm and establishes themselves as a consistent contender.
For now, more growth opportunities as they learn what it takes to get there.
The Utah Hockey Club will now face the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night at Rogers Place. The game can be viewed on ESPN. 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.
