NASHVILLE — It wasn’t pretty, but the Utah Mammoth got their first win of the 2025-26 season Saturday in Nashville.
And, once again, it was thanks to Dylan “game-winner” Guenther.
The 22-year-old star winger notched the fifth overtime goal of his NHL career and 10th game-winner overall in a Utah jersey at the 2:56 mark of extra time for a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. His nine game-winning goals last season were tied for fifth in the NHL.
“Those are the ones you want to play in, when the game’s close,” Guenther said. “Game is on the line, every shift matters, and that’s when we want to be at our best.”
Guenther has contributed to three of Utah’s four goals to start the season, scoring two and assisting another. The Edmonton, Canada, native put up 60 points last season and is on track to easily top that number this year in his fourth NHL season.
“He’s a good player,” teammate and former roommate Jack McBain said matter-of-factly when asked about the Guenther game-winner. “He’s doing a lot of really good stuff; (he’s) fun to watch, so this is good for him.”
Utah scored first and last in a gritty, physical game in “Smashville” at Bridgestone Arena. Logan Cooley scored his first goal of the season 2:21 into the game and Filip Forsberg equalized for Nashville five minutes later.
The second period featured 12 of Utah’s 14 penalty minutes in the game, allowing the Predators to dominate play and take the lead on a goal from Erik Haula at the 13-minute mark. McBain came to the rescue for Utah in the third period, however, scoring his first goal of the season to send the 2-2 stalemate to overtime.
“I think being physical and working down low, getting in the net, is a huge part of my game,” McBain said. “I like playing in those games, I like being gritty, I like all of that.”
The physicality of Smashville will likely follow the Mammoth home, though, as defenseman Sean Durzi took a hard hit from Jonathan Marchessault in overtime and skated straight to the bench holding his shoulder, looking visibly upset as he sat down.
Head coach Andre Tourigny did not have an update on Durzi after the game.
Utah moves to 1-1 on the season with one more game on the opening road trip in Chicago on Monday, before returning to the Delta Center for the home opener on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames.
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