SALT LAKE CITY — Dylan Guenther scored his eighth game-winning goal of the season Wednesday.
And each seems like they have all come from the same spot, too.
Guenther stuck again with his patented one-timer from the left circle seven minutes into the third period to lift the Utah Hockey Club to a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday at the Delta Center.
With the win, Utah moves within 2 points of the final wild card spot in a crowded playoff picture; 2 points now separate four teams for that last spot.
"I don't think we played our best game today, but we found a way to win, and we managed the puck pretty well at the end of the game," Guenther said.
That can be said about the power play that led to the game-winner, too.
Utah struggled to get organized on the pivotal power play, but a few loose puck recoveries from Barrett Hayton and Nick Schmaltz kept the puck in the offensive zone. And when Guenther saw that the Ducks penalty kill had dropped low, he started calling for the puck.
His teammates were happy to oblige.
Clayton Keller swung it up top to Mickhail Sergachev, who quickly teed up Guenther for the one-time blast.
"So just good recognition," Guenther said. "I feel like we've got pretty good chemistry as we continue to play together."
That wasn't the only game-winning play Gunether made on Wednesday. His second one was even more impressive to head coach André Tourigny.
"Yeah, he scored a goal, it's pretty important — especially that one — but I'm more happy about the shot he blocked when the game was on the line," Tourigny said. "That's a choice you make. Scoring a goal, it's a pretty easy choice when you have an opportunity, but when you decide to put your body on the line and sacrifice yourself for the team and do that for your brother."
He wasn't the only skater that made a key save, either.
In the second period, Anaheim forward Ryan Strome made a slick move around Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka to get a clear look on goal. But Sergachev came sliding over with a kick save that kept the puck out.
"Really nice save by him there in the second," Guenther said. "He's a big leader for us off the ice, and when he talks everybody's listening. He's the backbone of our team."
He certainly played that role on that critical save to keep Anaheim at bay.
"I think that's the connection you have as a team. I think you need your defenseman to protect your goalie," Tourigny said.
Sergachev did, and Vejmelka mostly took it from there, finishing with 19 saves, including some critical ones late, as the Ducks were pressing for the equalizer.
And those final minutes are what stood out to Touringy the most.
"What I take from that game is really the way we play into the third when we're protecting the lead and the sacrifice our guys did and the way they were engaging, the discipline and resilience we had," he said. "That was great to see."
So, too, was another Guenther game-winner.
