Utah hockey fans rang in the new year with a bang as the Utah Mammoth delivered a record-tying offensive explosion, routing the New York Islanders 7-2 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on January 1, 2026. The matinee clash marked a milestone for Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther, who notched the first hat trick of his young NHL career and finished with four points on the afternoon, including his 20th goal of the season. This dominant showing snapped a two-game skid for Utah and brought their record to an even 19-19-3, good for 41 points and renewed optimism as 2026 got underway.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: the Mammoth’s start was anything but dominant. For more than 14 minutes, Utah failed to register even a single shot on goal, setting a dubious franchise record for futility to open a game. The Islanders, meanwhile, came out buzzing, peppering Utah’s net and testing goaltender Karel Vejmelka early and often. As Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reported, "Islanders buzzing here early as they lead SOG 5-0. They're going right at Utah's net with no fear." The opening period ended scoreless, with New York holding a 10-5 edge in shots and Utah looking tentative—until the second frame flipped the script.
That’s when Dylan Guenther took over. The fourth-year forward, already establishing himself as a nemesis for the Islanders, struck first off the rush, breaking the deadlock and drawing even with teammates Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz for the team lead in points. “Dylan Guenther’s team-high 18th goal drew him even with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz with a team-leading 33 points,” Bagley noted, highlighting Guenther’s growing reputation as a transition threat. The Islanders responded quickly with a goal from Calum Ritchie, but Guenther wasn’t finished. Minutes later, he buried his second of the game off a slick no-look pass from Crouse, giving Utah a 2-1 lead and marking the second time this season he’d scored multiple goals in a game.
The floodgates had officially opened. Nick Schmaltz soon joined the party, sniping his 13th of the year over the shoulder of Islanders netminder David Rittich to make it 3-1. Utah’s offense, dormant for a quarter of the game, suddenly looked unstoppable. The Mammoth closed out the second period with smart, gritty defensive play—particularly from Lawson Crouse, whose efforts on the penalty kill helped preserve the lead.
Special teams proved pivotal as the third period began. Utah capitalized on back-to-back power plays, with Mikhail Sergachev blasting home his sixth of the season from the point and captain Clayton Keller cashing in to stretch the lead to 5-1. Islanders coach Patrick Roy, already forced to juggle his lineup due to injuries and fatigue, pulled Rittich after the fifth goal, a testament to Utah’s relentless pressure. As Bagley observed, “Netminder change for the Islanders. 5 goals on 14 shots will do that.”
The Islanders tried to claw back with a power-play goal from Matthew Schaefer, but the Mammoth had answers at every turn. With just under seven minutes left, Guenther completed his hat trick, sending Utah’s bench into a frenzy and fans on Long Island scrambling for their hats. “DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES AND RECORDS HIS FIRST EVER CAREER HAT TRICK FOR THE UTAH MAMMOTH!!!!!!!!! 6-2 Utah!” Bagley exclaimed in real time. Schmaltz added his second of the contest moments later, capping the scoring at 7-2 and tying the franchise record for most goals in a single game.
Guenther’s performance was nothing short of electric. Analysts and fans alike marveled at his movement, deception, and pinpoint accuracy. "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," Bagley later tweeted. The 22-year-old forward has quickly become the face of the Mammoth’s youth movement, and his chemistry with teammates like Schmaltz and Keller bodes well for Utah’s playoff hopes.
Utah’s goaltending also deserves a tip of the cap. Karel Vejmelka, activated off Injured Reserve earlier that day, was sharp between the pipes, stopping 20 of 22 shots and keeping the Mammoth afloat during the Islanders’ early onslaught. His return allowed Matt Villalta to be reassigned to Tucson, giving Utah stability in net moving forward. Head coach André Tourigny, speaking to media before the game, emphasized the importance of "the right management, the right change, the right puck management, those kind of things." His team delivered in spades, especially after weathering the early storm.
For the Islanders, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. The team entered the contest with a 22-15-4 record and 48 points, but their depth was tested by injuries and lineup uncertainty. Star goaltender Ilya Sorokin remained on Injured Reserve with a lingering lower-body injury, forcing Roy to stick with the battle-tested but weary Rittich. Rookie defenseman Marshall Warren continued to see limited ice time, while forwards Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat tried to rekindle their chemistry. Horvat, fresh off being named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, had little to celebrate as the Islanders’ defensive structure unraveled in the second and third periods.
The result also underscored the challenges facing the Islanders as the season progresses. With Sorokin’s status uncertain and the blue line stretched thin, Roy may need to make tough decisions about ice time and player deployment. Adam Pelech and Matthew Schaefer logged heavy minutes on defense, but the lack of depth was apparent as Utah’s attack wore them down. The Islanders had eked out a shootout win in Chicago just days earlier, but their inconsistent play and inability to contain Guenther spelled trouble from the opening faceoff.
Despite the lopsided score, the matinee provided plenty of storylines for both teams. For Utah, the offensive outburst and Guenther’s breakout performance serve as a statement of intent as the franchise eyes a playoff push. The Mammoth’s ability to weather adversity—a sluggish start, a hostile road crowd, and a determined opponent—speaks volumes about their resilience. For the Islanders, the defeat is a wake-up call. With Olympic selections and injury woes swirling, they’ll need to regroup quickly as the schedule ramps up in January.
As the final horn sounded at UBS Arena, it was Utah’s players who celebrated with stick taps and high-fives, their confidence restored and their place in the record books secured. The Mammoth will look to build on this momentum as they continue their road swing, while the Islanders return to the drawing board, searching for answers and hoping for a healthy Sorokin in net soon. The new year began with fireworks on Long Island—just not the kind the home fans had hoped for.
