Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — By the end, the Utah Hockey Club fans couldn't fight off the New York supporters any more.
The regular "Let's go, Utah!" chant that often echoes through the Delta Center bowl had been drowned out by "Let's go, Rangers!" A sea of red and blue overtook large portions of Utah's home arena, so at least plenty of people went home happy Thursday.
For Utah, though, it was a familiar story: Another hot start, another blown lead, another home loss.
New York, clearly basking in the glow of the favorable crowd, scored three times in the third period to beat Utah 5-3. The Club has now lost three straight and four of its last five games.
Oh, and it has won a league-worse six home games all season.
In October, Hockey Club management hyped up the Delta Center, saying it would be among the NHL's best home-ice advantages and one of the "most feared" places to play.
About that ...
Heck, at this point, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Delta Center hang a "visitor's welcome" sign at the doors. Opposing teams come to check out the new NHL digs and leave with 2 points. Not a bad deal — as long as you aren't wearing light blue and black.
"We know the situation — this is our first year, we want to come out, we want to win games for these fans," defenseman Ian Cole said. "We want to put our best foot forward, especially here at home. It's unfortunate what the record is."
New York Islanders coach Patrick Roy — whose team started Utah's latest losing skid last weekend — knows all about that first-year pressure well. Roy was traded to Colorado during the Avalanche's inaugural season in 1995-96.
"I think as a player, you want to gain the heart of the fans," he said. "You want to come here, and you want to make them excited about hockey and the team, and these guys have the chance to make the difference in this franchise. … These players are in a good position like we were in Colorado. Fortunately for us, I mean, we won the Stanley Cup that year. So it was a pretty good start."
Forget about Cups or playoffs, Utah fans at this point would just be happy with a win — any win.
Still, there's excitement. The novelty of a new franchise hasn't worn off yet.
The crowd was buzzing after Matias Maccelli scored just over a minute into the game, and again when Logan Cooley started the second period with a blast to give Utah a 3-2 lead — a lead, though, that went by the wayside in the third.
New York scored on a shorthanded goal in the first minute of the third period to tie the game, and then Chris Kreider shot the game-winner through Cole's stick.
And just like that, the Delta Center sounded eerily like Madison Square Garden.
"Ranger fans travel well — it's something that I don't really care about," Cooley said.
Something else he doesn't really care about? His current individual success. The second-year forward is on a three-game point streak and has 4 points during the home stand. Most of those points have come in big moments, too, like his goal in the second period to break a 2-2 tie.
But, to him, that's all just fluff.
"It's all about the team," he said. "Individual success is nice, but it's all about winning games. That's when you're having fun, and that's when you know you're feeling good."
And right now, he — nor anyone else in the locker room — is feeling too good.
"We're trying to be selfless, do what's best for the team, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the result, and it's another loss on home ice," he said. "So it's frustrating, but we got to find a way out of this."
The way out may just be heading back out on the road.
