SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Dylan Guenther #11 of the Utah Hockey Club scores a goal on the San Jose Sharks in the first period at SAP Center on December 14, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
DETROIT – Early in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings, Utah Hockey Club forward Dylan Guenther set up by the left face-off circle.
As he does so often from that spot, Guenther loaded up and sent a laser toward the net.
Great work to maintain possession in the O-zone by Hayton, perfect passing from Kesselring/Kerfoot, and what a shot by Guenther. https://t.co/OOWynARGwV
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 7, 2025
Assisted by Michael Kesselring and Alexander Kerfoot, Guenther scored his 23rd goal of the season. His total points tally increased to 45 which is good for fourth on Utah’s roster.
He also overtook Clayton Keller for most goals scored with the shot despite playing in 11 fewer games than the captain.
Unfortunately, Utah’s lead did not stick for long. A little over a minute later, Dylan Larkin evened the score at 1-1.
Red Wings answer back quickly.
1P: 16:40 | 1-1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 7, 2025
Detroit went on to take the advantage in multiple stat categories as the first period played out.
The Red Wings had more shots, more faceoffs won, more hits, and more blocked shots. About midway through the period, they took a 2-1 lead off the stick of Jonatan Berggren.
The Utah Hockey Club will begin a massively important two-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings tonight.
At this point of the season, every game is do-or-die for Utah. The postseason is not out of the question but they will need big wins, and big losses from the competition, if they hope to secure a Wild Card spot.
Detroit finds itself in a very similar situation. They are currently on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture looking in. However, they trail the Wild Card teams by less than three points. As things stand through 61 games, Utah needs to make up four points.
Before the first matchup between Detroit and Utah, the teams have a very similar outlook on the final stretch of the NHL season.
With a 27-25-9 record, Utah sits sixth in the Central Division and 11th in the Western Conference. At 30-25-6, Detroit holds the fifth spot in the Atlantic Division and the 10th spot in the conference.
The Hockey Club has a 15-12-3 record on the road while the Red Wings are 16-14-3 at home. Utah comes in having won three of its last four while Detroit has lost three in a row.
Utah Hockey Club games can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on the KSL Sports app or 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
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