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The Hockey News - Utah Hockey Club
Dylan Guenther's Impressive Hat Trick Kicks Off Utah Mammoth's New Year
- Story byThe Hockey News - Utah Hockey Club
- Dylan Guenther's Impressive Hat Trick Kicks Off Utah Mammoth's New Year
If Dylan Guenther 's New Year's resolution was to score goals, it could not have started any better, recording his the first hat trick of his NHL career as Utah rolled to a 7-2 win over the Islanders.
Guenther also matched his career high in points this game, registering four points thanks to his hat-trick and an assist he had on a Mikhail Sergachev power play goal.
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"It's cool. I had lots of two-goal (games) actually, so it's nice to get another one," said Guenther. "Crouser and Hayts made really nice plays on all my goals, so I wouldn't have scored three without them."
Though the game turned into a blowout, Guenther's offensive performance was particularly important given how the game started for the Mammoth.
Jan 1, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) celebrates with center Barrett Hayton (27) and left wing Lawson Crouse (67) after scoring his third goal of the game in the third period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Slow and Steady Wins The Game
Utah was not in Times Square to watch the ball drop — its game against the New York Rangers was still days away — but it faced an early surge from the Islanders as soon as the puck dropped.
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After going without a shot on goal for the first 14 minutes — a franchise record — Utah was forced to rely on its defense early.
New York generated chances at will, registering 10 shots on net before Utah recorded its first, while the Mammoth struggled to move the puck through the neutral zone.
With Karel Vejmelka back in net after missing Utah's previous two games, the Mammoth weathered the Islanders' strong start and escaped the first period tied 0-0 thanks to his sharp play.
Though Utah's offense was largely held in check, it found some momentum through a pair of power-play shots in the opening period and a disallowed goal by Alexander Kerfoot due to a high stick.
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It was not much, but forcing pucks on net against Islanders goaltender David Rittich gave the Mammoth a spark.
That momentum carried into the second period, as Guenther led a more aggressive offensive push, weaving through New York's defense.
Just like that, Utah took the game's first lead thanks to Guenther's speed and crafty puck play, scoring just 36 seconds into the second period.
An uneventful first period may not have been the start Utah envisioned, but the fact that Vejmelka kept the Islanders scoreless despite the slow start proved crucial to the win. Without that strong defensive showing, it is hard to say whether the Mammoth would have built the momentum that led to seven goals.
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"I was smiling every time we scored," said Vejmelka. "It was fun to watch. It's so much more fun to play when we score a couple goals, and I think for everybody, it's so much fun."
No-Look, Behind-the-Back Magic
Guenther may have had the most impressive feat of the day with his hat trick, but Lawson Crouse delivered the flashiest play.
No, he was not one of the four Mammoth players to score a goal, but his remarkable effort not only gave Utah the lead for good, it was also vital in setting up Guenther's first NHL hat trick.
The game was tied 1-1 after Islanders forward Calum Ritchie took advantage of an open lane, skating past a broken Utah defense. The goal came just minutes after Guenther's first of the night, as New York quickly answered the momentum shift.
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Despite the response, the Mammoth began to take control as the game wore on, firing shots at Rittich while players like Crouse outworked the Islanders in other facets of the game.
"Our unsung hero tonight is Lawson Crouse," said André Tourigny. "He was rock solid, (on the) PK (he was) super, played really well. Made good plays with the puck, without the puck. He was really good for us tonight."
Crouse certainly deserved the praise from Tourigny as it was his good play with the puck that helped Guenther get his second goal of the night.
Seconds before his assist, Crouse had been high-sticked and was still holding his face as he skated toward the puck.
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His persistence paid off. Positioned perfectly, he collected the puck and delivered an excellent no-look, behind-the-back pass to Guenther as he cut toward the net.
Crouse's two-assist night may not jump off the stat sheet, but his complementary play on the second line — along with his shot-blocking on the penalty kill — showed why Utah was able to pull off the win in New York.
