SALT LAKE CITY- Despite entering the first intermission down 1-0, it seemed that Liam O’Brien had stolen back some momentum with a fight at the end of the first period.
The home team was flying in the first five minutes of the second period, finding several scoring chances and finding a breakthrough via Mikhail Sergachev.
There was a battle for the puck in the Flyers’ offensive zone behind the Utah net that was eventually won by the Hockey Club, giving them numbers the other way.
Dylan Guenther led the charge, dumping the puck behind him for Barrett Hayton to send a one-timer on net. The shot was saved by Ersson, but the rebound floated in no man’s land for a few seconds before Guenther grabbed it once again.
The Philadelphia defense became disoriented in all the chaos, leaving Mikhail Sergachev wide open at the blue line. Guenther hit him with a pass and Sergachev sent a one-timer into the back of the net for Utah’s first goal of the night.
Great effort here from Guenther. Takes off on the rush, finds the puck on a rebound and sets up Sergachev perfectly.
Money shot from No. 98.
Guenther with a point in his first game back. https://t.co/9fj9JC27IJ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 5, 2025
The Flyers struck back quickly, regaining the lead just a couple of minutes later. Philadelphia currently leads 3-1.
Pros for Utah Outlaws as Utah Hockey Club logos surface
First off, Utah Outlaws just rolls off the tongue better than Mammoth.
It also presents a whole bunch of additional branding and nickname opportunities for nearly aspect of Utah’s NHL team.
What about nicknaming Delta Center the Salt Lake Saloon or The Hideout?
Utah could also introduce a new goal horn that sounds like a train, the visiting penalty box could have a wanted or jail theme, and rally towels could be more like bandanas.
Plus, shootouts would be way more fun with outlaws involved.
Aside from all the fun branding, there’s a lot of historical prevalence to outlaws in the state of Utah.
As one of the most well-known outlaws of the old west, Butch Cassidy was actually born in Beaver, UT and everyone is familiar with his partner Harry “The Sundance Kid” Longabaugh.
Overall, cowboys and the old west present a plethora of golden branding opportunities that have been entirely untouched throughout the NHL.
Pros for Utah Mammoth as Utah Hockey Club logo’s surface
With Yeti officially out, Mammoth fits the mountain, ice and snow theme with much more favorable branding than Outlaws.
A transition to Mammoth would be seamless. Utah could legitimately place Mammoth on all of their apparel right now and it would look absolutely perfect.
Unlike Outlaw, they also wouldn’t have to change any of the pregame visuals, and nobody can argue that a Mammoth breaking the ice wouldn’t be absolutely fantastic.
Additionally, Mammoth has historical prevalence to Utah as they lived along the shores of the ancient Lake Bonneville and remains have been found in the area.
Overall, Mammoth just seems to relate more to some of the other NHL teams such as the Seattle Kraken, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. Why not the Utah Mammoth?
Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.
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