ELMONT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Dylan Guenther recorded a hat trick and an assist as the Utah Mammoth routed the New York Islanders 7-2 in the NHL on Thursday at UBS Arena. Utah erupted for three goals in the second period and four in the third before a crowd of 17,255. Guenther scored twice in the second and completed his hat trick in the third. Nick Schmaltz added two goals and an assist for Utah, while Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists. Calum Ritchie and Matthew Schaefer scored for the Islanders. Karel Vejmelka made 20 saves for the win. Utah improved to 19-22, and New York fell to 22-19.

ELMONT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Dylan Guenther recorded a hat trick and added an assist, and the Utah Mammoth erupted for seven unanswered goals to rout the New York Islanders 7-2 on Thursday afternoon at UBS Arena. Guenther, named the game’s top star, scored twice in a dominant second period and completed his hat trick late in the third as Utah snapped a two-game skid and improved to 19-22. The Islanders, coming off a shootout win in Chicago, fell to 22-19. After a scoreless and tightly contested first period that saw Utah’s Karel Vejmelka and New York’s David Rittich turn aside all shots, the Mammoth’s offense exploded. Guenther opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the second period, finishing a play with assists from Barrett Hayton and Mikhail Sergachev. The Islanders briefly responded when rookie Calum Ritchie netted his sixth of the season at 4:35 of the second, assisted by Max Shabanov and Marshall Warren, to tie the game. The tie was short-lived, however, as Utah reclaimed control with relentless pressure. Guenther struck again at the 20:20 mark of the middle frame, converting feeds from Lawson Crouse and Hayton. Nick Schmaltz then extended the lead to 3-1 just over 12 minutes later with an unassisted wrist shot, sending Utah to the second intermission with a commanding two-goal advantage and all the momentum. The third period became a showcase for the visiting Mammoth. Clayton Keller made it 4-1 just 15:41 into the period on the power play, assisted by Schmaltz and Sergachev. Guenther completed his three-goal performance at 19:54, set up by Crouse and Sean Durzi, prompting the Islanders to replace Rittich with backup Marcus Hogberg. Schmaltz added his second of the game at 48:55, with JJ Peterka and Keller assisting. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev capped the Mammoth scoring at 6:52 of the third, with Keller and Guenther earning helpers on the play. New York’s Matthew Schaefer broke Utah’s seven-goal run with a late power-play marker at 33:48 of the third, assisted by Jonathan Drouin and Shabanov, to provide the final margin. Vejmelka was solid in net for Utah, stopping 20 of 22 shots for the win. Rittich took the loss for New York, making 20 saves on 26 shots before Hogberg stopped 5 of 6 in relief. The Mammoth’s offensive leaders were prolific. Beyond Guenther’s four-point day, Schmaltz finished with two goals and an assist, Keller had a goal and two assists, and Sergachev contributed a goal and two assists. Hayton and Crouse each chipped in two assists. The game featured nine penalties, four against Utah and five against New York. The Islanders’ power play converted once on four opportunities, while Utah went 1 for 5 with the man advantage. The lopsided result defied pregame projections. National Statistical’s game simulator had predicted a 3-2 Islanders victory, and its ELO system gave New York a 57.6% probability to win. The total of nine goals sailed over the closing over/under line of 5.5. The victory avenges a 3-2 overtime loss the Mammoth suffered to the Islanders in Utah on Nov. 14. It also marks a positive start to a critical East Coast road trip for Utah, which visits the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and the New York Rangers on Monday. The Islanders, who had won three of their last four entering the contest, will look to regroup quickly as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday before embarking on a lengthy six-game road trip of their own. Attendance at UBS Arena was 17,255 for the New Year’s Day matinee.

Preview: Utah Mammoth at New York Islanders ELMONT, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Utah Mammoth look to snap a three-game skid when they visit the New York Islanders on Thursday in a New Year’s Day NHL matchup at UBS Arena. Utah (18-22-0) arrives after a 4-3 home loss to Nashville on Monday, its sixth defeat in the last nine games. The Islanders (21-18-0) also seek a rebound after a 4-2 road loss to Columbus on Sunday snapped a two-game win streak. The teams met earlier this season on Nov. 14, with the Islanders securing a 3-2 overtime victory in Utah. Bo Horvat scored the game-winner for New York in that contest. A key matchup will feature Utah’s Dylan Guenther against New York’s Horvat. Guenther has been a bright spot for the Mammoth during their inconsistent stretch, recording points in seven of his last 11 games. He had a goal and an assist in the recent loss to Nashville. For the season, the winger leads Utah in several offensive categories. Horvat, the Islanders’ captain, has 10 points in his last 10 games and scored in Sunday’s loss. His line will be central to New York’s efforts to establish offensive zone time against a Utah team that has been outscored 11-5 during its current losing streak. The game opens a critical four-game road trip for the Mammoth, who are just 7-13-0 away from home this season. Following this contest, they visit New Jersey on Saturday and the New York Rangers on Monday. For the Islanders, this begins a three-game homestand before they embark on a lengthy six-game road trip through Western Canada and the Central Division. They host Toronto on Saturday. In net, Utah’s goaltending has struggled lately, allowing four or more goals in four of the last six games. The Islanders have won three of their last four at home, where they are 12-8-0 this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. EST. The game will be televised locally on MSGSN for the Islanders and KJZZ for Utah.