Guenther’s OT Heroics Lift Utah Past Columbus

Dylan Guenther Leads Utah to Another Overtime Victory

Dylan Guenther proved once again why he is becoming a clutch performer for the Utah Hockey Club. For the second consecutive game, the forward netted an overtime winner, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Guenther’s heroics highlight a remarkable return from injury and solidify his growing reputation as a game-changer.

Guenther’s latest game-winning goal came off an outlet pass from goaltender Connor Ingram. Despite missing his initial shot, the 20-year-old forward capitalized on his rebound to seal the win at 4:27 of the extra period. His ability to step up in crucial moments has been a driving force behind Utah’s recent success, especially considering his game-winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the week.

“I kind of figured [Ingram] was going to shoot it, and I didn’t even really see it,” Guenther admitted. “Pretty bad first shot, to be honest, but [I] got lucky that it came back to me.”

Guenther's feat of scoring in the final minute of overtime in consecutive games places him in elite company. He is only the second player in NHL history to achieve this milestone, following Brent Burns, who accomplished the same for the Minnesota Wild in 2007.

Despite Utah not playing its best hockey, they still found a way to win, a sentiment echoed by Guenther himself. “We’re going to be in a lot of these [tight] games moving forward, so it’s important for us to get some of those wins.”

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Utah’s Depth Players Step Up

Utah’s win wasn’t just about Guenther’s heroics. Contributions from Lawson Crouse and Olli Maatta played a crucial role in the team’s victory. Crouse, who was a healthy scratch in the previous game, responded with a strong performance and a goal early in the second period, tying the game 1-1. His redemption moment came just seconds after a Utah power play expired, as he buried a one-timer off a pass from Josh Doan.

“I think he played hard,” head coach André Tourigny said of Crouse. “He was focused. He was intense. I really liked his game.”

Crouse’s struggles this season have been evident, with just eight goals and 12 points, a far cry from his previous 20-goal campaigns. However, his benching seemed to serve as a wake-up call, pushing him to elevate his game. Tourigny’s decision to sit Crouse sent a message to the entire team that no player’s spot is guaranteed, regardless of past success.

Meanwhile, Maatta, who is set to represent Finland in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, gave Utah a 2-1 lead in the second period when his centering pass deflected off Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski’s stick and found the back of the net. The goal was a fortunate break for Utah but a testament to their aggressive play and ability to capitalize on opportunities.

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Columbus Struggles Continue Despite Strong Performances

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the loss extended their losing streak to three games, despite commendable performances from Ivan Provorov and Werenski. Provorov’s short-handed goal with just 39 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, marking his first career short-handed tally and extending his goal streak to three games. His continued strong play has been one of the few bright spots for Columbus during their recent struggles.

Werenski, who assisted on Provorov’s goal, set a new Blue Jackets record for most points in a season by a defenseman with 58, surpassing Seth Jones’ 2017-18 mark. He also extended his home point streak to 20 games, putting him in rare company among defensemen in NHL history. Only legends like Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Phil Housley have recorded longer streaks.

Despite these individual accolades, the Blue Jackets have been unable to translate them into team success. Defenseman Damon Severson remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of securing at least a point in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.

“You take as many points as you can,” Severson said. “We would love to get a little bit better than that, but if we get a win (against the New York Rangers on Saturday), that’s going to set us up pretty solid moving forward.”

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Utah Showing Signs of Playoff-Ready Grit

After a stretch of inconsistent play, Utah is finally starting to string together wins at a crucial time in the season. With two consecutive overtime victories, they have clawed their way back into the Western Conference wild-card race, sitting just four points behind the Calgary Flames and six points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot.

What has changed? The team is learning how to win close games. Earlier in the season, Utah frequently found themselves on the losing end of tight matchups, unable to capitalize on late-game opportunities. But over the past week, they have demonstrated greater composure, resilience, and the ability to step up in pressure situations.

“I think we controlled our emotions much better, and we were able to come back playing with a lot of passion,” Tourigny said. “I think we found a way to push through.”

Outshooting the Blue Jackets 33-22, Utah dictated much of the game’s pace and showed greater urgency compared to previous losses. However, skepticism remains regarding their ability to maintain this level of play consistently. Utah has shown flashes of brilliance before, only to follow up with extended losing streaks. Earlier in the season, they won three straight games, only to lose six of their next seven. Similarly, from late November to late December, they picked up points in 12 of 13 games before losing 10 of their next 12.

Consistency has been Utah’s biggest challenge. But if they continue to find ways to win, as they did on Thursday, they could turn this season around.

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Looking Ahead

For Columbus, the focus shifts to bouncing back from their recent struggles as they prepare to face the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Blue Jackets desperately need a win to regain momentum heading into the upcoming break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Their recent slump has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, and securing points before the break will be crucial.

Zach Werenski will be a key player to watch, as he continues to put up historic numbers for the franchise. Meanwhile, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will need to step up after allowing three goals against Utah. A strong defensive effort and capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be essential if Columbus hopes to break their losing streak and head into the break on a high note.

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