Guenther had 2 goals and an assist as Utah defeated Avalanche 4-1

DENVER – Dylan Guenther scored two goals and an assist and the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Thursday night.

Vladislav Kolyachonok and Kevin Stenlund also scored as Utah improved to 3-0-1 in its last four games. Karel Vejmelka stopped 22 shots.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his 11th goal of the season for Colorado and Scott Wedgewood made 19 saves in his first home start with the Avalanche since joining Nashville on Nov. 30. The Avalanche snapped a three-game winning streak.

Guenther opened the scoring at 8:26 of the first period when his central pass deflected off Artturi Lehknonen’s skate and past Wedgewood. Midway through the second period, Kolyachonok and Guenther scored 1:47 apart to give Utah a 3-0 lead.

MacKinnon made it 3-1 with 4:34 left in the third, but Stenlund scored into an empty net 23 seconds later.

Utah: Has a losing record at home but is 9-6-2 on the road. Utah has won five straight road games, playing six of its next 10 games.

Avalanche: New goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood served as Wedgewood’s replacement three days after being acquired from San Jose. Blackwood is projected to be Colorado’s No. 1 goaltender

Colorado had a chance to reduce the deficit in the final minute of the second period when Cale Makar’s shot trickled through Vejmelka and landed in front of the net. Casey Mittelstadt fanned the ball and tried to inbound the ball, and Utah managed to clear it out of the goal crease.

MacKinnon’s goal was his 946th career point, tying him with Michel Goulet for third in franchise history.

Utah travels to San Jose on Saturday night while the Avalanche host Nashville.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL