The house always wins. That’s the lesson the Utah Hockey Club learned Friday night on its trip to Las Vegas.

An even first two periods had some wondering if the game would need overtime until the Vegas Golden Knights took control in the third period and defeated Utah HC 5-2.

Utah hockey for dummies

Win or lose, you must have liked two things that Utah HC showed: the white jerseys and the development of Logan Cooley.

I may have to do a poll on X soon to see if I represent the people of Utah with this statement, but the white Utah HC jerseys are superior to the dark ones in every way. They are so clean. It’s a shame the team can’t wear them in front of the home crowd at the Delta Center.

As for Logan Cooley, even you hockey dummies – said with the utmost love and respect, of course – probably noticed him at a few key points during the game.

My favorite was when he turned in an opponent’s offensive zone and threw a perfect pass all the way to the other side for Michael Carcone, who got in a great shot. Then, less than two minutes later, Carcone delivered essentially the same pass to Cooley, although it was too hot for Cooley to handle.

These types of plays don’t just happen, and not everyone can pull something off like that. Cooley is a special player with a lot of potential in the NHL.

“You’re still trying to be all systems go and just trying to get in the best shape you can during the regular season,” Cooley said after practice on Friday morning. “Keep building up little things in practice and preseason and just try to be (in) the best shape during the regular season.”

The 20-year-old center had a good year statistically last season, but you can expect him to really break out this year.

Utah Hockey for casual fans

The bottom six front group is a hotly contested topic in Utah HC circles right now. You could argue that at least nine different forwards deserve the bottom six spots, but basic math tells you that a few guys should be cut.

I’ve been saying in recent days that Kailer Yamamoto, who is currently on PTO, is proving he deserves one of those spots. I’ve speculated that while Josh Doan is showing he belongs in the NHL, his entry-level contract makes him the easiest of the group to send down if the team signs Yamamoto.

Doan makes that decision difficult for Utah’s staff.

He showed his true value about twelve seconds before assisting on Utah HC’s first goal. He took the puck from Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, who is best known for taking the puck from opponents himself.

As the play moved back into the Golden Knights zone, Doan joined the rush and played a key role in setting up the goal.

Such good defensive plays are common for Doan. Another came in the final seconds of the first period. The Golden Knights carried the puck into Utah HC’s zone for one last chance before the buzzer sounded, and instead of trying to rid his man of the puck, Doan simply put him in the boards and then tied up his stick until the time was up.

Coaches appreciate two-way players, and that’s exactly what Doan is.

If Doan is sent to the AHL to start the year, it will likely be a Dylan Guenther-like situation. Guenther started last season with the Tucson Roadrunners, but was called up to the Coyotes in January. He played the rest of the season with the big club and produced enough to earn an eight-year contract.

Whether he plays in the NHL all year or only when necessary will depend on what management thinks is best for his development. There is no doubt that Doan can hold his own in the big leagues.

Utah hockey for nerds

Generating attack turned out to be the downfall of Utah HC on Friday. It was a lot less noticeable in the first and second periods when both teams struggled to control the puck, but the Golden Knights must have changed their game plan during the second intermission because something changed.

The shot clock is a somewhat accurate indication of the foul committed, although it certainly does not tell the full story. In the third period, Utah HC managed just six shots, compared to 13 by the Golden Knights. At that point, the Golden Knights ran away with the game, scoring three runs.

This was clearly an incomplete lineup, so it’s no time for Utah HC to hit the panic button. Most of the good attacking looks came from the guys who are expected to provide them throughout the season, while the depth players played a tight defensive game that barely allowed anything to get through until the third period.

That’s exactly what depth players are for, so you can’t blame them for not having much offense.

What’s next?

Utah HC returns home Friday and Saturday to sleep in his own bed before making a quick flight to Denver for a game against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Like the Golden Knights, the Avalanche are a skilled team that plays a heavy brand of hockey. It will be a good chance to see what some of Utah’s veterans are made of.

The game starts at 5:00 PM and will be streamed on Utah HC+.