Utah's No. 11 gets 11th game-winner in 3-2 Mammoth home win over Boston Bruins

SALT LAKE CITY — "Sweet, thanks," are usually the last words out of Utah Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther's mouth after an interview.

Thousands of fans at the Delta Center on Sunday were likely saying something similar after Guenther scored his second game-winner of the year and 11th in the No. 11 Utah jersey to give the Mammoth a 3-0 start at home with a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.

Guenther said his parents were in the crowd on Sunday, making the goal that much more special for the 22-year-old Edmonton, Alberta, native.

"It only took them like 25 games (to see a goal), so this might have been the last road trip if I hadn't got one," Guenther said jokingly. "Growing up as a kid, always dreaming of playing in the NHL and getting to score with your family is pretty cool."

Guenther's goal was the lone score of the third period after Utah and Boston both got goals over each of the opening two periods. Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller scored the first two for the Mammoth, while David Pastrnak had both for the Bruins.

Head coach Andre Tourigny and Keller both said the ability to close out a close game like Sunday's and defend a late lead are signs of growth and maturity for a Mammoth team with Stanley Cup playoff aspirations.

"I think our team's grown a lot," Keller said. "We're a more mature team. We have a lot of confidence. The guys are comfortable with one another, our chemistry seems to be good. We're still drilling as a team and trying to be connected as much as possible. I just want to keep going forward and learning after every game."

Tourigny also commented on the strong play and connection between Keller and Nick Schmaltz early in the season, combining for 12 points over the last two games on the Utah home stand.

"It's tough for any good player to find another player who thinks like you, who you will know where you are and where you will be," Tourigny said. "It's not a matter of talent, it's just a special chemistry, just something you build over time."

Schmaltz extended his team lead in points to nine with a pair of assists on Sunday, including the primary assist on Keller's goal, after scoring the first NHL hat trick in Delta Center history against San Jose on Friday.

Starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka got the day off on Sunday, but fellow Czech goalie Vitek Vanecek stepped in and put up a solid .923 save percentage with 24 saves against Boston, while also getting a third-period shutout to secure the win.

The Mammoth will look to keep their win streak at home going on Tuesday with a tough matchup against Western Conference leader Colorado after falling on the road to the Avalanche in a tight 2-1 battle to start the season.

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