Utah scores winner late in third to top slumping Blues

Utah scores winner late in third to top slumping Blues

Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist to lead the visiting Utah Hockey Club past the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Thursday.Matias Maccelli, Michael Kesselring and Jack McBain also scored for Utah, whic

Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist to lead the visiting Utah Hockey Club past the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Thursday.

Matias Maccelli, Michael Kesselring and Jack McBain also scored for Utah, which won for just the second time in its past eight games.

Utah stifled the Blues defensively and limited their shots on goal. Connor Ingram had to make just 13 saves to earn the victory.

Colton Parayko and Jordan Kyrou scored and Pavel Buchnevich earned two assists for the Blues, who lost for the fourth time in their past six games.

Joel Hofer made 27 saves in defeat.

Utah scored 18 seconds into the game to take a quick 1-0 lead. Clayton Keller lofted a backhand lead pass to give Kesselring a breakaway.

Kesselring lost control of the puck as he tried to make his last move, but the puck rolled through Hofer.

The Blues sustained pressure during an extended man advantage, which included a brief five-on-three power play. But Ingram kept St. Louis off the board.

The Blues tied the score 1-1 on a four-on-three break with 1:19 left in the first period. Parayko jumped up into the play and scored from the slot.

St. Louis got a three-minute power play in the second period but failed to take advantage. Utah outshot the Blues 14-2 in the period and took a 2-1 lead.

Maccelli stepped up to take Guenther’s pass and score from the top of the right circle with 1:51 left in the period.

The Blues struggled to apply offensive pressure in the third period until Kyrou tied the score with 6:31 left to play. Buchnevich got through the Utah defense and set up Kyrou’s one-time blast from the left circle.

Guenther scored the decisive goal with 3:21 left on a two-on-one break. His pass attempt deflected off Parayko and inside the left post.

McBain scored an empty-net goal with 3.7 seconds left to make it 4-2.