Dylan Guenther’s two goals help Utah get past the Avs

Dylan Guenther scored two goals and an assist, Vladislav Kolyachonok also scored a goal and the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Thursday night in Denver.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 23 shots and Logan Cooley had two assists for Utah, which has won five straight road games.

Nathan MacKinnon scored Colorado’s only goal and Scott Wedgewood made 19 saves in his first home start for the Avalanche. Wedgewood was acquired by Nashville on November 30th.

Utah jumped into the lead at 8:26 of the first period. Guenther tried to feed Cooley as he crashed into the net, but Guenther’s pass from the right boards deflected off Artturi Lehkonen’s right skate and Wedgewood. Günther was credited with the goal.

The guests scored goals 1:47 apart in the second period. Kolyachonok made it 2-0 when his shot from the top of the right circle flew past Wedgewood at 8:05.

Givani Smith, who came to Colorado as part of the deal for Blackwood, received an unsportsmanlike conduct minor and it took nine seconds for Utah to concede. Nick Schmaltz sent a pass through the slot to Guenther, whose one-timer beat Wedgewood at 9:52.

It was his twelfth goal of the season.

The Avalanche then increased the pressure. Guenther’s double minor late in the second negated a Utah power play. Colorado almost scored in the final minute when Cale Makar’s shot trickled through Vejmelka and landed in the goal area, but it was cleared before it crossed the line.

Wedgewood came off the field late in the third period for an extra fielder and MacKinnon scored his 11th goal at 15:26. Stenlund fired into an empty net 23 seconds later to seal it. It was Stenlund’s fifth goal of the season.

Wedgewood was pulled again, but Colorado couldn’t get another goal through Vejmelka, who narrowly missed his first shutout of the season.

–Field level media