Utah’s Dylan Guenther Making Plays and NHL History

In the very short lived history of the Utah Hockey Club, the fans of the newest NHL team are experiencing pure jubilation for the first time.

Over the past month and a half, fans haven’t had much to be excited about outside of being able to vote for the squad’s moniker come next season (Go Mammoth).

Up until this week, Utah had gone 5-10-3 since Christmas and was struggling to sprinkle in wins here and there in pursuit of the last wild card spot.

Despite a stretch of winning three straight games, the Club had been dealt losing streaks of 5 straight, 3 straight and two straight in that same time span.

The Delta Center was still filling up, the buzz was still in the air, but the results were underwhelming compared to preseason expectations.

Mix injuries of pivotal players with youth and inconsistency and you got what the Hockey Club was putting out on a night to night basis.

Fun moments mixed with maddening lapses in play resulting in blown leads and tough losses.

But that’s all been forgotten as of now as Utah is riding high on a two game streak after downing the Philadelphia Flyers in Salt Lake City and dispatching the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

You might say, “so what?” A two game win streak? Big whoop.

But not only were the fans treated to a hard fought, clutch it out type of victories, both also came in overtime, and both wrapped up in one of the most exciting ways in which a hockey game can finish.

Both were photo finishes, down to the wire, hold your breath performances with Utah netting one with 33 seconds left in the overtime period (4:27) against Columbus off a high IQ Connor Ingram goalie assist.

And the other was waiting until the absolute last moment to triumph over Philadelphia scoring with 1 tick left on the clock (4:59).

So let’s see here: Overtime? Check.

Last minute goals? Check

Walk off Celebrations? Check.

To make it all the more exciting, both goals came off the stick of Dylan Guenther, one of the newest stars of the NHL.

The first round pick from 2021 was not just a shining ray of hope and positivity for both Utah and it’s fans but a dominant force who pushed the team over the top after just returning from a 12 game absence due to him sustaining a lower body injury back on the 10^th of January.

Per Craig Merz of NHL.com, Guenther hit incredibly rare air with his consecutive game winning slap shots.

Dylan became just the 2^nd player to score in the last minute of overtime in back to back games in NHL history, joining Brent Burns of the Minnesota Wild back in 2007.

An impressive feat in it’s own right made all the more magical by this being Utah’s first pro hockey experience in the fullest.

The man known as “Gunner” certainly did more than just send the other team packing however, as his play has lifted those around him.

For example, in the win over the Flyers, Guenther assisted on Utah’s first goal and cashed in on the 2^nd one himself to take a 2^nd period lead a bit over 3 minutes in as a small part of his two goal, 1 assist showing.

With John Marino back, Sean Durzi getting closer and Guenther mounting a triumphant return, Utah may be able to hold steady in the playoff race whilst waiting for Logan Cooley to heal up.

Utah is currently six points back (55) of the last wild card team, Vancouver (61).

Now above .500 at 23-22-9, Guenther and the guys move onto game #2 of a 4 game road trip taking on the Carolina Hurricanes this Saturday the 8^th of February.

As fun as it’s been for Utah fans as of late they likely won’t complain if Guenther doesn’t become the first player to hit three consecutive last minute goals in overtime, as a nice comfortable 4-2 win will suffice.

But for the moment the team and the fans are enjoying it all.