Dylan Guenther logs another game-winning goal for Utah Hockey Club

What do Dylan Guenther, Nikita Kucherov and Mark Scheifele have in common?

The three are tied for the second-most game-winning goals in the NHL with nine – just one behind Leon Draisaitl who has 10.

What doesn’t Guenther have in common with that group of All-Star players?

Well, he’s 21 and in his first full season in the league. For perspective, Draisaitl (who shares the ice with Connor McDavid) is 29, Kucherov (who has won two Stanley Cups) is 31 and Scheifele (who is on the top team in the league, Winnipeg) is 32.

That has not stopped Guenther from being a difference-maker in game-altering moments for Utah Hockey Club this season. In fact, he did it once again Thursday night at Delta Center in his team’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

“Those are the times of games you want to play in,” Guenther said. “Those are the fun times. It’s nice to be recognized there.”

Barrett Hayton poked at the rebound of Michael Carcone’s initial shot from the high slot and popped it out to the left side where Guenther was stationed below the goal line. The forward wristed the puck from the low angle to put Utah ahead 3-2 at 14:13 of the third period. It was Guenther’s 25th tally of the season – a new team-high – and ultimately secured two points for the Club.

“He’s 21 but he’s one of the better players in the league. He’s got an elite shot. Definitely top-10 in the league. He uses it well. Obviously, we’ve got confidence – that’s why we pass it to him,” said Mikhail Sergachev, who scored twice Thursday. “He shoots five shots, he scores one. That’s him.”

Guenther was part of a three-goal third for Utah, which worked to separate itself from the Sabres after they tied things 2-2 early in the period with a short-handed play. The surge, and win, kept Utah four points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

“What’s going on here is a lot of learning. It’s learning on steroids. We need to keep going and keep doing our job at that point. Stay in the hunt,” head coach André Tourigny said. “If we want to make it, it will be by one point. Every point is important.”

Logan Cooley got Utah on the board in the first period. After going pointless for six consecutive games (which was a season-high), Cooley potted his second goal and third point in three matchups. The 20-year-old drove the net after his linemate Nick Schmaltz intercepted an attempted Buffalo clear. Schmaltz settled the puck and dished it over to Cooley on the left who one-timed it past Sabres’ goaltender James Reimer at 17:27.

Buffalo found the 1-1 equalizer with 11 seconds remaining in the first. Ian Cole sat in the box for his second penalty of the period – and fourth in two games – this time for cross-checking. The Sabres capitalized on their power play as J.J. Peterka unleashed a rocket from the right circle that beat Karel Vejmelka who returned to the net after getting pulled on Tuesday.

Vejmelka finished the night with 25 saves on 27 shots in his 12th straight start.

“All the confidence in the world. He’s our guy,” Sergachev said of Vejmelka. “He’s there when we need him.”

Sergachev regained the lead for Utah in the middle frame. Jack McBain won an offensive-zone draw and dumped it back to Sergachev who ripped it from the point for the 2-1 boost at 11:50. It marked the defenseman’s 12th goal and 44th point of the year – 15th most for all defensemen in the NHL.

The Sabres clawed back again, though, and Utah let up its second consecutive short-handed goal in as many games. Utah – specifically Sean Druzi, Lawson Crouse and Cooley – mismanaged the puck at center ice, allowing Ryan McLeod to take off the other way with it and roof in to make it 2-2 at 1:32. Utah also went 0-for-4 on the power play, a weak point of its game on Thursday.

“Yeah, that sucks,” Sergachev said. “Obviously when your power play is not going, it’s kind of a battle for everyone. You don’t get the momentum out of it, you don’t score goals…Kind of makes the team a bit shaky.”

Guenther’s shot with just over five minutes on the clock in regulation made it 3-2 before a wonky empty-net goal extended Utah’s advantage. Kevin Stenlund was called for a delayed high-sticking penalty while Reimer was pulled in the final minutes. Tage Thompson passed the puck across the top of the zone but it ended up bouncing off the far wall and into his own net on the other end to give the Club a 4-2 lead.

“As long as it happens on our side, that is great. That is perfect,” Tourigny said. “That was good timing. Clutch play.”

Sergchev’s ensuing empty-netter at 19:41 – and second goal of the contest – brought the game to its final 5-2 scoreline. It was an important win for many reasons but especially coming off of Tuesday’s 7-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers.

“I think it gets a little bit of confidence back,” Guenther said. “Just make sure that we got back on track. I thought that was a step in the right direction.”