SALT LAKE CITY – In what turned out to be another thrilling and playoff-like contest, the Utah Hockey Club claimed two crucial points over the Anaheim Ducks amidst a tight wild card race. Despite allowing the Ducks to tie the game in the third period, Dylan Guenther scored the game-winner to secure a must-have 3-2 win on home ice.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s victory over the Ducks.
While Utah Hockey Club’s lines have shuffled over the course of the season with the number of injuries they’ve sustained, the third unit has arguably benefitted the most from the new combinations.
Utah’s third line has been so much better with McBain and Doan alongside Crouse.
They’re big, physical, relentless, suffocating, and punish the opposition consistently on every shift.
Crouse has gotten back to his game with those two.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
With Josh Doan and Jack McBain joining Lawson Crouse over the last few weeks, the third line has been resurrected and made a sizable impact.
Over the last five games, the trio has averaged more than a point per night with seven total between the three.
How are they able to do it?
By playing in your face, smash-mouth, suffocating hockey as they torment teams on the forecheck, attack the blue paint and deliver punishing hits all over the ice.
Against the Ducks, Anaheim experienced all of this firsthand as McBain opened the scoring in the first period.
Like I said, this new third line has done wonders for Utah.
Doan is so good on the puck while McBain and Crouse crowd the crease.
What a tip in. https://t.co/CAowaIdCaD
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
As Utah’s biggest line with Crouse standing 6-foot-4, McBain standing 6-foot-3, and Doan at 6-foot-1, the trio is a well-constructed combination of size, skill and energy.
While Doan facilitates, can score and battles in the dirty areas, Crouse crashes the net hard, can shoot, is great defensively and makes smart plays.
As for McBain, he’s physical, crowds the crease, battles for positioning and opens space.
“They’ve been awesome [Crouse & McBain],” Doan said. “Two guys that have kind of helped me grow my game the most probably in the last couple years and finding my way.”
While Doan has clearly benefitted from playing with Crouse and McBain, Crouse has also been playing his best hockey of the season.
Following the Four Nations break, Crouse shared that he’s had more a shoot first mindset.
“I did a lot of reflecting over the break. I felt that I was getting away from that shot first mentality,” Crouse said a few weeks back.
“I said to myself, I’m going to shoot more pucks whenever I can…and when I do get the puck be ready to shoot it.”
Not only has he stayed true to that, but with his new linemates and to Utah’s benefit, Crouse has gotten back to the type of hockey he was known for in Arizona.
After signing his new five-year extension with the Utah Hockey Club, Karel Vejmelka has continued to earn every new penny as he’s consistently put his team in a position to win hockey games.
However, during the second period against Anaheim, Mikhail Sergachev made an unreal kick save in front of an open net that warranted a nice dinner from his goaltender.
Save of the game. Book it.pic.twitter.com/RLLyeJxgPL
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
Attempting to make a save against Ryan Strome in close, Vejmelka was pulled out of position which left the net wide open.
Lucky for Veggie, his best defenseman was paying attention and had his back as he stretched out his leg to stop a would-be goal.
Sergachev does it all.
What an elite kick save. Credit that man on the stat sheet. https://t.co/ep2yI86DYw
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
These are the exact moment General Manager Bill Armstrong had in mind when he acquired No. 98 from Tampa this past summer.
A Swiss-army-knife top defenseman who can generate offense, anchor the blue line and make ridiculous kick saves when needed.
Given his new extension, Vejmelka should treat Sergachev to dinner for bailing him out with the save of the game.
With a team-high 24 goals this season, 21-year-old Dylan Guenther has transformed the left faceoff circle into his personal office as he’s become absolutely automatic from that spot.
Against the Anaheim Ducks, Guenther went to work when Utah needed him most as he scored his eighth game winner (tied for third in the NHL this season) to claim two crucial points for his squad.
Just a Costco lover who is deadly from the left faceoff circle.
Simply automatic. https://t.co/Q6TiID7klj
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
As Utah fans have come to know, Dylan Guenther is a special talent with a remarkably lethal shot.
The way he’s able to get it off so quickly and accurately while consistently lighting the lamp when goaltenders know it’s coming speaks volumes to how deadly he is.
What separates elite players from the rest of the league is remaining deadly effective despite being predictable.
Similar to Alexander Ovechkin, everyone knows when and where Guenther’s shot is coming from.
Regardless, in Ovi-like fashion, Utah’s young star has discovered how to consistently burn teams and there is simply nothing they can do about it.
Talk about clutch?
That was Guenther’s 8th game winning goal this season which is tied for third most in the NHL.
He’s 21 years old.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 13, 2025
Whether or not Utah crosses the finish line and claims a playoff spot this season, the potential is undeniable, and the growth is obvious.
Despite being so young, Guenther is not only a critical component of Utah’s future but he’s already making a difference as his goal was the difference and helped Utah climb within two points of the final wild card spot.
The Utah Hockey Club will now face the Seattle Kraken on Friday night at Climate Pledge Arena. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
