Utah HC's 2-1 overtime win over Boston last night did not come without the assistance of another amazing home-ice advantage.
In the summer, I wrote about how the Delta Center is notorious for being one of the loudest, most difficult places to play in the NBA.
Owners Ryan and Ashley Smith wanted that same energy for the Utah Hockey Club, and they're getting it.
There have only been two home games, but both times, the crowd at the Delta Center has clearly factored into the energy of the hometown team.
Nowhere did it show more than in the 2-1 overtime win over the Bruins last night, where the fans seemingly willed Vladislav Kolyachonok to score the tying goal late in regulation, triggering an ear-splitting roar that rocked the streets of downtown.
It's no wonder, then, Clayton Keller said on opening night "it was the loudest arena I've ever been in", and Michael Kesselring added last night "we definitely got a little boost from it".
And it's difficult not to; the stands at Delta Center are some of the steepest in the league, even in the lower bowl, and as Kesselring noted, it creates the illusion the fans are right on top of you, only amplifying the intimidation and noise factor.
That may have explained why the Bruins looked so rattled in the latter part of regulation and into overtime after Kolyachonok's equalizer, with the crowd relentlessly chanting "Let's go, Utah" as their team pushed for the win.
They ended up getting to celebrate one more time with Kesselring's winner 2:46 into the fourth period to send them home happy -- and once again confirmed the magic of the Decibel Center.
"Those games like that are tough, so you need every ounce of energy possible," head coach Andre Tourigny said. "Having our crowd pushing with us, it feels really good."