In a remarkable inaugural performance, Dylan Guenther scored twice, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a commanding 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City. Barrett Hayton contributed with a goal and an assist, while Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse also tallied, showcasing Utah’s offensive strength. This historic match marked the team’s first outing since their relocation from Tempe, Arizona, earlier this year, after a Salt Lake City-based ownership group acquired the Arizona Coyotes.
Goalkeeper Connor Ingram played a pivotal role in the triumph, recording 25 saves throughout the game. The Blackhawks’ Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno found the net, with Connor Bedard adding two assists, but Petr Mrazek could only stop 20 shots. Chicago struggled to capitalize on their power play opportunities, going 0-for-3.
Guenther made franchise history by netting the inaugural goal on Utah’s second shot, putting the home team ahead 1-0 at just 4:56 into the first period. Michael Kesselring surged into the Chicago zone and executed a pinpoint pass to Guenther, the Coyotes’ ninth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Guenther unleashed a fierce one-timer from the high slot, successfully beating Mrazek.
The lead grew to 2-0 at 13:35 of the first when Keller seized on a turnover by Blackhawks defenseman Craig Smith. After receiving a pass from Hayton following Smith’s misplay, Keller deftly redirected the puck into the net after a partial block of Schmaltz’s shot.
The home team extended their advantage to 3-0 at 8:46 of the second period, as Mikhail Sergachev’s shot from the point deflected off Chicago defenseman Jason Dickinson and Hayton before finding the back of the net.
The Blackhawks responded to narrow the gap to 3-1 at 14:25 of the second. Bedard skillfully navigated past a Utah defender at the blue line and delivered a backhand pass to Teravainen, who slipped the puck through Ingram’s pads. Chicago further reduced the deficit to 3-2 when Foligno expertly redirected a point shot from Alex Vlasic at 4:46 of the third.
With time running out, the Blackhawks pulled Mrazek in a desperate bid for an equalizer. However, Guenther sealed the game with an empty-net goal, pushing the score to 4-2 with just 42 seconds left. Crouse capped off the scoring, deflecting a shot into the net with a mere 22 seconds remaining, finalizing the contest at 5-2.