Coming off a big win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Utah Hockey Club were looking to win one of their games in hand to get back into the playoff race. Against a team like the Detroit Red Wings who aren’t expected to make the playoffs, it seemed like Utah would continue their winning streak. Instead, they scored two fluky goals against them, resulting in a 5-1 Red Wings win. Here are some takeaways from Monday’s game.
Dylan Guenther Hits the Century Mark
Dylan Guenther might be the best player to come out of the 2021 NHL Draft, and Monday’s game is proof. After getting a pass from Clayton Keller, Guenther unleashed his wicked shot to get the puck past Alex Lyon for a power play goal. It ended up being his 26th goal of the season, but more importantly, the 100th point of his career.
In just 137 games, Guenther now has 100 points. That’s nearly a point per game at just 21 years old. What’s even more important is that not only does he become the seventh player from the 2021 Draft to reach the century mark, but he is now the fastest to do so out of the seven.
It’s no knock on any of the other players that were a part of the 2021 Draft. Players like William Eklund, Wyatt Johnston, Luke Hughes, and Mason McTavish are fantastic, but it feels like Guenther is on a whole different level, especially with his play this season.
Related: Utah Takes Next Step in Rebuild With Quiet Trade Deadline
This will be Guenther’s first season in the NHL where he hasn’t been in the American Hockey League (AHL) at any point during the year. It’s clear that he’s developed into a key player for Utah in the past couple of seasons, and now he’s a massive part of not just the offense but the locker room as well. Keller has seen him play ever since he entered the league. He’s noticed how quickly Guenther has adjusted to the NHL level, and he’s happy the young forward will be on his team for a long time.
“He’s such a great guy, such a great player,” Keller said. “(He has) one of the best shots I’ve ever seen. He works on it a ton during practice, before practice, and after practice. A lot of credit to him. He’s such an easy guy to play with. I can’t say enough good things about him. He competes hard. He’s a great leader. He’s growing every year, and we’re so lucky to have him locked up for a long time.”
The goal was also Guenther’s 50th point of the season. It’s crazy to think he’s still…
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