Guenther has 2 goals and an assist as Utah beats Avalanche 4-1

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Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, left, blocks Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther as his shot flies past Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood for a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz, left, pursues the puck with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka deflects the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club left wing Michael Carcone, right, reaches for the puck after taking it away rom Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club center Alexander Kerfoot, right, looks for a pass as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton covers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz, left, pursues the puck with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, right, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O’Connor, left, collects the puck as Utah Hockey Club defenseman Ian Cole covers in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse, left, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O’Connor defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood pulls on a glove in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Utah Hockey Club head coach Andre Tourigny directs his team gainst the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By MICHAEL KELLY

DENVER (AP) — Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist and the Utah Hockey Club beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Thursday night.

Vladislav Kolyachonok and Kevin Stenlund also scored as Utah improved to 3-0-1 in its last four games. Karel Vejmelka stopped 22 shots.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his 11th goal of the season for Colorado, and Scott Wedgewood had 19 saves in his first home start with the Avalanche since coming over in a trade with Nashville on Nov. 30. The Avalanche snapped a three-game win streak.

Guenther opened the scoring at 8:26 of the first period when his centering pass deflected off Artturi Lehknonen’s skate and past Wedgewood. Kolyachonok and Guenther then scored 1:47 apart midway through the second period to put Utah up 3-0.

MacKinnon made it 3-1 with 4:34 left in the third, but Stenlund scored into an empty net 23 seconds later.

Takeaways

Utah: Has a losing record at home but is 9-6-2 on the road. Utah has won five straight road games, where it plays six of its next 10 games.

Avalanche: New goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood served as Wedgewood’s backup three days after being acquired from San Jose. Blackwood is expected to be Colorado’s No. 1 goalie

Key moment

Colorado had a chance to cut into the deficit in the final minute of the second period when Cale Makar’s shot trickled through Vejmelka and landed in front of the net. Casey Mittlestadt fanned trying to knock it in and Utah was able to clear it out of the crease.

Key stat

MacKinnon’s goal was his 946 career point, tying him with Michel Goulet for third in franchise history.

Up next

Utah travels to San Jose on Saturday night while the Avalanche host Nashville.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL