Nick Schmaltz's First Utah Goal Highlights Dominant First Period

LAS VEGAS – Utah Hockey Club forward Nick Schmaltz found his first goal of the season to contribute to one of the best periods of the year.

Based on how the first period played out, Utah must have had a chip on its shoulder from its previous losses to the Golden Knights.

Stellar feed from Keller and Schmaltz BURIES it.

That had to feel good. Huge relief for No. 8 and Utah is ROLLING right now.#UtahHC https://t.co/P29bhWK29z

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 1, 2024

It started relatively early with Clayton Keller scoring his first goal in a month.

From there Alexander Kerfoot and Schmaltz both found the back of the net in less than 90 seconds.

Great PK by Utah and then elite awareness from Kerfoot off the bench.

Recognizes the goaltender is out, anticipates where the puck is going, cuts it off and then fires one on net.#UtahHC https://t.co/V2CGXvaOn9

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 1, 2024

As the period began to wind down, Utah wasn’t quite done.

Logan Cooley showed the Vegas fans what the definition of right place, right time is as Olli Maatta bounced it off of him into the net to make it 4-0.

Cooley is so hot that pucks are literally flying off of his body and into the net.

5 straight games with a point.#UtahHC https://t.co/EYRPs2vC5v

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 1, 2024

What Can Utah Learn From Vegas Hockey Arena Production?

For 41 days during the NHL’s regular season, T-Mobile Arena transforms into a fortress for the Vegas Golden Knights. In addition to 60 minutes of elite hockey with some of the biggest stars in the league repping the gold, steel gray and black, the arena becomes an absolute spectacle of all things Vegas.

As Delta Center and the Utah Hockey Club continue to acclimate to the culture of the NHL, there are a few things they could learn from one of the best arena experiences in the league.

Yeah, ok.

Vegas is SICK. What a production. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/2div9vkCqi

— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) November 3, 2024

Now, it’s important to recognize a few things before jumping into this.

First off, the Utah Hockey Club is only seven months old. The production team is learning every day how to improve the atmosphere and according to President of Hockey Operations Chris Armstrong, they are actively working on it every game.

Second, an improved atmosphere will come with time.

But between now and then, here are a few things Utah can learn from Vegas:

Embrace everything that is Utah. What makes our city and state unique? Our towering mountains, beautiful different landscapes, stunning National Parks, the greatest snow on earth and “Life Elevated.”
If the team’s name is headed the direction everyone thinks it is, fully embrace that. Create a stunning pre-game show with the mythical creature using the ice, lasers, projections in a mountain setting. Also, the “Ice Den” or “Ice Cave” would be an incredible nickname for the Delta Center.
There needs to be more engagement with the crowd. Like Vegas, there needs to be something during every stoppage. A video, a different chant, a game, or something to keep it loud. In between periods, play games with fans on the ice or get a party started. Allow youth teams to play short hockey games, lets fans race or shoot pucks the entire length of the ice for prizes.
Also, the music party during the second intermission in Vegas was a lot of fun, no reason Utah couldn’t do something similar.
While the team’s identity is somewhat on hold until they decide on a new name, they’re still things that can be done now to create a Utah identity.