Dylan Guenther, seemingly, cannot be stopped.
The 21-year-old forward scored twice in Utah Hockey Club’s 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild Friday at Xcel Energy Center.
Guenther extended his point streak to seven games and logged his ninth multi-point performance of the season in his team’s fourth consecutive victory. What’s more, Utah has won seven straight games on the road — this time against a divisional opponent.
“Big one. Every point is important for us going down the stretch. We’re playing well right now and just try to keep it going,” Guenther said. “I think when the team has success, so do the individuals. I’m just kind of the beneficiary of it.”
Much of Guenther’s success has come on the power play and it remained a difference-maker in Minnesota.
With the game tied 1-1 in the third period, Utah was put on the man advantage as Jared Spurgeon sat in the box for tripping at 9:56. Guenther was stationed at his regular left-circle spot and threw the puck on net where it hit off a Wild player and in. Guenther’s 16th goal of the season earned the final 2-1 scoreline.
Guenther leads Utah with seven power-play goals and has been a big part of the first unit’s hot streak this month. The team has scored eight times on the man advantage in the last six games — all of which was produced by the first unit of Guenther, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley and Mikhail Sergachev.
Of those eight goals, five have been scored in the third period. Not only has the power play found consistency, but at critical moments of the game. Those five players have embraced the pressure and converted when it matters.
“I think we are building chemistry a bit,” Guenther said. “Just being able to reset and bear down when the time matters. I thought we’ve been doing that.”
The other side of special teams cannot be ignored. Utah’s penalty kill went 5-for-5 against the Wild, including a shut-down showing at the end of the second period which prevented Minnesota from taking a lead into the third. Utah has allowed just two power-play goals against in the last six games.
“I think we made some adjustments on the penalty kill and it worked well,” head coach André Tourigny said.
Karel Vejmelka has been one of Utah’s best penalty killers — and overall players — through that stretch. The goaltender made four saves on the Wild’s third power play and finished the night with 28 stops.
Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka (70) skates on the ice during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at an NHL hockey game, Thursday Oct 24, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
With his numbers — 2.29 goals against average and .918 save percentage — Vejmelka has put the question of whether he can handle a starter’s workload to rest. The answer is yes and he is doing it well.
“I’m just trying to focus for another shot,” Vejmelka said. “It’s all about focus to be ready. Doesn’t matter what’s going to happen, just be ready for another shot and try to find the puck early.”
The Wild’s only goal of the night came from Mats Zuccarello at 10:20 of the first period. The forward broke out on a 3-on-2 rush and one-timed a pass from Kirill Kaprizov past Vejmelka from the right side. Utah was quick to respond, though, and scored a minute later.
Guenther deflected Jack McBain’s initial shot in after driving the net. The goal made it 1-1 at 11:20 and marked Guenther’s fifth goal in four games.
Logan Cooley orchestrated the play and picked up his 22nd assist of the year. The second-line center powered through the neutral zone on entry and weaved around Minnesota players to get the puck to McBain by the left circle. Cooley tops Utah with assists and is three away from breaking his total (24) from his rookie season.
“I think it was a huge moment when we were able to tie the game pretty quick after they scored,” Vejmelka said. “Then we just got better every period and had a strong finish.”
Following Guenther’s second tally of the night in the final frame, Utah had 10 minutes to defend its one-goal advantage.
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy, right, reaches for the puck as Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Just over a week ago, Utah led Minnesota by a goal with less than a minute remaining on the clock. The Wild tied the game in the dwindling seconds of regulation and grabbed the win in a shootout.
Utah locked it down in Friday’s rematch, however, and came away with the two points.
“Just really good composure. We’ve been in that situation a lot so I think we are getting better at it. Just another greasy win,” Guenther said. “Just trying to finish out games. We talk, good teams find ways to win. We don’t play our best and then we grind it out and find a way to win. Nice to get those ones.”
