Columbus, Ohio — In an exhilarating overtime finish on Thursday night, Dylan Guenther found the back of the net with just 33 seconds remaining, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Utah Hockey Club against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This win marked Utah’s second consecutive triumph.
Guenther was not the only contributor for Utah as Lawson Crouse and Olli Maatta also scored, while Connor Ingram turned aside 20 shots to protect the net. For Columbus, Justin Danforth netted one goal and Ivan Provorov managed to score short-handed, but the team suffered its third consecutive defeat and faced its first home loss since January 2. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins was solid in goal, making 30 saves.
Key Observations:
Utah kicked off a three-game road stretch with a thrilling comeback victory, marking their second straight overtime win. Additionally, this game concluded their inaugural season series against Columbus with a split.
For the Blue Jackets, the contest in February was their first at home after returning from a four-game road trip, during which they relinquished an early lead and had a five-game home winning streak come to an end.
A pivotal moment occurred when Guenther capitalized on his own rebound after Ingram thwarted a potential 3-on-1 opportunity for Columbus, rapidly transitioning play up the ice to his advantage.
In an impressive statistical achievement, Zach Werenski assisted on Provorov’s goal, marking him as the fourth defenseman in NHL history to record a home points streak of 20 games. He now joins the ranks of legendary players such as Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Phil Housley. Furthermore, Werenski set a new franchise record for points by a defenseman in a single season, reaching 58 in just 54 games. The collective production from Columbus defensemen has been noteworthy this season, as they have combined for 36 goals and an impressive 136 points, leading the league in both categories.
Looking ahead, Utah will face the Carolina team on Saturday, while the Blue Jackets will prepare to host the New York Rangers the same day.
This report has been updated to clarify that Merzlikins made 30 saves instead of the previously noted 29.
