Utah Hockey Club Nearly Makes History, Dominates Colorado Avalanche
Guenther Nearly makes History as Utah Hockey club Dominates Avalanche on the Road
DENVER – dylan Guenther came agonizingly close to etching his name in Utah Hockey Club history, but even without a hat trick, his performance propelled the team to a resounding 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
guenthers near miss came in the third period when his wraparound attempt slid tantalizingly along the goal line before being denied entry.
“That one stings a little,” the 21-year-old forward admitted. “I saw the open net and just didn’t score. So, whatever, I think when we play like that, we get chances, good things will come.”
And good things certainly did come for Utah on Thursday night. Guenther’s 3-point performance (two goals and an assist) was a key factor in the team’s fifth consecutive road win, extending their impressive streak of victories by multiple goals to four.
Adding a special touch to the night, the Hockey Club brought along mentors – primarily family members – on the road trip. Guenther’s mother made the journey, which may have contributed to his stellar showing.”It’s pretty cool to have her here,” he said. “And I’ve actually had pretty good luck when she’s in the building, so might have to bring her again next year.”
Guenther now leads the team wiht 12 goals and 28 points this season,making his pre-season contract extension look like a masterstroke.
His first goal was a blessed bounce off Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen’s skate, while his second came on the power play, a testament to Utah’s recent dominance with the man advantage.
“Just a really nice play by Schmaltzy and Cools, speedy puck movement,” Guenther said of the power-play tally. “I mean, my mom probably coudl’ve scored that one.”
Utah’s special teams have been firing on all cylinders,netting nine power-play goals in their last 10 games.
Head coach André Tourigny sees Guenther’s first goal as a valuable lesson for the team’s young forwards. The Cooley-Guenther-Jack McBain line has been Utah’s most productive offensive unit this season.
“What I like tonight more than I will say recently, they were outstanding defensively, and they get a reward offensively,” Tourigny said. “So I hope they realize that.They’re young,they’re really competitive,they want to do the right thing. And tonight, they were rock solid defensively and really good offensively, so good for them. Great to be rewarded like that. Happy for them.”
Utah’s defensive effort was bolstered by another stellar performance from goaltender Karel Vejmelka, who made 23 saves, including several highlight-reel stops that kept Colorado off the board until late in the third period.”I like the chances we created at times in the game, but (Vejmelka) made some big saves tonight, no question,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “And we got a little unlucky.”
Adding to Colorado’s misfortune, Vladislav Kolyachonok, playing his first game as November 24th, scored when his long-range shot deflected off Avalanche defenseman Calvin de Haan’s stick and into the net. This marked Utah’s second goal off an Avalanche player on the night.
With a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games, the Utah Hockey Club is riding a wave of momentum.
“Right now,we’re playing good games,and we have the urgency,” tourigny said.”We don’t want to let that go, and we’re trying to keep going.”
Guenther’s Near-Hat Trick Fuels Utah hockey Club’s Rout of Avalanche
DENVER – Dylan Guenther came agonizingly close to etching his name in Utah Hockey Club history, but even without a hat trick, his performance propelled the team to a resounding 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Guenther’s near miss came in the third period when his wraparound attempt slid tantalizingly along the goal line before being denied entry.
“That one stings a little,” the 21-year-old forward admitted. “I saw the open net and just didn’t score. So, whatever, I think when we play like that, we get chances, good things will come.”
And good things certainly did come for Utah on Thursday night. Guenther’s 3-point performance (two goals and an assist) was a key factor in the team’s fifth consecutive road win, extending their remarkable streak of victories by multiple goals to four.
Adding a special touch to the night, the Hockey Club brought along mentors – primarily family members – on the road trip. Guenther’s mother made the journey, which may have contributed to his stellar showing.
“It’s pretty cool to have her here,” he saeid. “And I’ve actually had pretty good luck when she’s in the building, so might have to bring her again next year.”
Guenther now leads the team with 12 goals and 28 points this season, making his pre-season contract extension look like a masterstroke.
His first goal was a blessed bounce off Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen’s skate, while his second came on the power play, a testament to Utah’s recent dominance with the man advantage.
“Just a really nice play by Schmaltzy and Cools, speedy puck movement,” Guenther said of the power-play tally. “I mean, my mom probably could’ve scored that one.”
Utah’s special teams have been firing on all cylinders,netting nine power-play goals in their last 10 games.
Head coach André Tourigny sees Guenther’s first goal as a valuable lesson for the team’s young forwards. The Cooley-Guenther-Jack McBain line has been Utah’s most productive offensive unit this season.
“What I like tonight more than I will say recently, they were outstanding defensively, and they get a reward offensively,” Tourigny said. “So I hope they realize that. They’re young, they’re really competitive, they want to do the right thing.And tonight, they were rock solid defensively and really good offensively, so good for them. Great to be rewarded like that. Happy for them.”
Utah’s defensive effort was bolstered by another stellar performance from goaltender Karel Vejmelka, who made 23 saves, including several highlight-reel stops that kept Colorado off the board until late in the third period.
Adding to Colorado’s misfortune, Vladislav Kolyachonok, playing his first game since November 24th, scored when his long-range shot deflected off Avalanche defenseman Calvin de Haan’s stick and into the net. This marked Utah’s second goal off an Avalanche player on the night.
With a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games, the Utah Hockey Club is riding a wave of momentum.
“Right now, we’re playing good games, and we have the urgency,” Tourigny said. “We don’t want to let that go, and we’re trying to keep going.”