Dylan Guenther scored twice and had one assist, while Vladislav Kolyachonok also found the net, helping the Utah Hockey Club defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 in Denver on Thursday night.
Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves, and Logan Cooley recorded two assists for Utah, which has now won five consecutive road games.
Nathan MacKinnon scored the only goal for Colorado, and Scott Wedgewood, making his first home start for the Avalanche, saved 19 shots. Wedgewood was acquired from Nashville on November 30.
Utah took the lead at 8:26 of the first period when Guenther’s pass intended for Cooley deflected off Artturi Lehkonen’s skate and went past Wedgewood, giving Guenther the goal.
In the second period, Utah added two more goals within 1:47. Kolyachonok made it 2-0 with a shot from the right circle at 8:05.
Then, just nine seconds after Givani Smith took a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, Guenther scored again on a one-timer from a pass by Nick Schmaltz at 9:52, bringing his season total to 12 goals.
Colorado increased the pressure after that, but Utah’s defense held firm. Guenther took a double minor late in the second period, wiping out a Utah power play. In the final minute, Colorado nearly scored when Cale Makar’s shot trickled through Vejmelka and was sitting in the crease, but it was cleared away before it could cross the line.
With Wedgewood pulled for an extra skater late in the third, MacKinnon scored at 15:26, but 23 seconds later, Stenlund sealed the win for Utah with an empty-net goal, his fifth of the season.
Wedgewood was pulled again, but Vejmelka kept Colorado from scoring, coming close to a shutout but settling for a 4-1 win.
