ELMONT, NEW YORK - JANUARY 01: Dylan Guenther #11 of the Utah Mammoth celebrates his hat trick goal at 13:54 of the third period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on January 01, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LONG ISLAND, New York – Dylan Guenther notched the first hat trick of his young career, finishing with four points in a 7-2 blowout win over the New York Islanders.
Utah started slowly, not attempting a shot for more than 14 minutes before the floodgates opened. Seven goals equals the franchise record for goals in one game.
The Mammoth (19-19-3, 41 points) beat up the Islanders (22-15-4, 48 points) at UBS Arena in a New Year’s Day battle to begin 2026.
A Happy New Year indeed 🥳🙌 pic.twitter.com/eXqDK55t7a
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Guenther scored two quick goals in the second period before assisting on Mikhail Sergachev’s sixth goal of the year.
The fourth-year forward netted the hat trick while giving his team a 6-2 lead midway through the final period. It was his 20th goal of the year.
Nick Schmaltz lit the lamp twice, giving him 14 goals.
Utah scored two power-play goals to begin the final 20 minutes.
MORNING AVAILABILITY
“We do a lot of good stuff, we generate good offense… I think for us it’s to make sure we have the right management, the right change, the right puck management, those kind of things."@utahmammoth André Tourigny ahead of today's game against NYI pic.twitter.com/PEloIU9GSv
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) January 1, 2026
Karel Vejmelka has been activated off Injured Reserve.
Goaltender Matt Villalta has been assigned to Tucson.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Kicking off 2026 with these fellas 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9SzWg4Nzcq
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Let 2026 begin. #TusksUp | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/Y8J4w0Wxxw
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
LISTEN LIVE: @utahmammoth are on the road to battle the @NYIslanders on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/JI8KhHQBya pic.twitter.com/CsTsmht91w
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2026
Islanders buzzing here early as they lead SOG 5-0.
They're going right at Utah's net with no fear.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Jack McBain to the box for interference.
Islanders to the PP.
1P: 10:43 | 0-0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Utah set a franchise record for futility, going more than 14 minutes before attempting its first shot of the day.
Utah back to full strength. https://t.co/wSZfdfb1Uh
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Daniil But is cross checked by Pelech and Utah will have their first PP of the afternoon.
They still don't have a shot on goal…
1P: 6:10 | 0-0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Kerfoot tips one in but it's immediately waved off for a high stick.
Looks like the right call to me.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Pretty uneventful first period against the Islanders.
Strong start for Vejemlka as New York was relentless through the first 10 minutes or so until Utah gained some offensive momentum on the power play.
Scoreless after 20 min. Second period on deck.
Islanders lead SOG 10-5.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Scoreless after the first. pic.twitter.com/Mh4POT5AV8
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES OFF THE RUSH AND UTAH LEADS 1-0!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Dylan Guenther’s team-high 18th goal drew him even with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz with a team-leading 33 points.
Guenther continues to become more dangerous off the rush & in transition.
He does such a good job of moving his body and changing directions to keep the defense on their toes.
Then at any moment he can unleash one on net.
So hard to defend. https://t.co/KBd8t5MTLW
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
New York needed less than two minutes to respond with a Calum Ritchie goal.
Ritchie snipes Vejmelka.
1-1
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Clayton Keller to the box for tripping.
Islanders to the PP.
2P: 14:26 | 1-1
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Guenther added his second goal minutes later to give the Mammoth a 2-1 lead.
It marked the second time this season that Utah’s goals leader had scored multiple goals in a game. He accomplished the feat six times in 2023-24.
Dylan Guenther scoring against the Islanders.
No. 11 now has ✌️ this afternoon as the Mammoth lead 2-1! pic.twitter.com/Fz9U3pqqsp
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
No look pass from Crouser gets Gunner his second of the day! 😎
2-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com/nprtZY04GA
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Islanders back to full strength. https://t.co/aeS60tCcMC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Schmaltz gave his team a 3-1 advantage with a top-shelf sniper shot past David Rittich in goal. It was his 13th goal of the year.
NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES OFF THE RUSH AND UTAH LEADS 3-1!!!!
Picked his spot up high and let it fly.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Pick a corner, any corner 💪
🚨 Schmaltzy makes it 3-1, Mammoth. pic.twitter.com/iYkug5QVb3
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Ritchie takes a stick up high from Kerfoot and draws blood.
4 min PP for the Islanders.
2P: 2:34 | 3-1 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Huge period for Crouse defensively.
Lots of really smart plays that could easily be overlooked, especially to close out the period on the PK.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Keep the momentum going. pic.twitter.com/l2m8nK92O6
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Ian Cole is hooked and Utah will now head to the PP.
4 on 4 hockey for a few seconds and then Utah will have a man advantage for 1:51.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
MIKHAIL SERGACHEV SCORES FROM DEEP ON THE POWER PLAY AND UTAH LEADS 4-1!!!!
What a response by Utah this afternoon.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
🚨 Sergachev power play goal! 👏
4-1, Mammoth. pic.twitter.com/NJlF5n5Rq2
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Too many men on the ice for the Islanders.
Another Utah PP.
3P: 14:58 | 4-1 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
CLAYTON KELLER SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY!!!!
5-1 Utah!
How bout that???
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
The Captain! Atta boy, Kells!
🚨 5-1, UTAH! pic.twitter.com/kSMSTTiKTf
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Netminder change for the Islanders.
5 goals on 14 shots will do that.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Ian Cole to the box for interference.
Islanders to the PP after a lengthy delayed call where they hit the pipe.
3P: 9:19 | 5-1 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Schaefer scores on the PP for New York.
5-2 with 8:02 remaining.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES AND RECORDS HIS FIRST EVER CAREER HAT TRICK FOR THE UTAH MAMMOTH!!!!!!!!!
6-2 Utah!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
DYLAN GUENTHER HAT TRICK! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/jppHc0u8tJ
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 1, 2026
Dylan Guenther is just flat out special. I don't know how else to say it.
His movement, deception, body control, and pinpoint accuracy are all elite.
One of the primary reasons that the future is bright in Utah.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Schmaltz scores again lol.
No mercy from the Mammoth.
7-2!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
Utah wins 7-2 over the Islanders.
Guenther with his first career hatty.
Vejmelka superb with 20 saves on 22 shots and keeping Utah in the game early.
They needed that win so bad. Huge for momentum through these next two.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 1, 2026
The Mammoth travel to New York to meet the New York Islanders on Thursday, January 1. New Year’s Day action begins at 1 p.m. MT.
Follow the entire 2025-26 Utah Mammoth schedule here.
The Smith Entertainment Group’s (SEG) streaming platform will also continue to carry all Mammoth games on SEG+ in 2025-26.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
All Mammoth games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) also airs Jazz games.
Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
