Arvid Soderblom recorded his first NHL shutout, making 22 saves as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-0 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday. The victory ended Chicago’s three-game losing streak and featured key contributions from Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno, with Foligno scoring his 250th career goal during the matchup.
Goaltender’s Long-Awaited Shutout Comes in 104th NHL Game
This shutout marked a significant milestone for Soderblom, who achieved the feat in his 104th NHL appearance. It was his first game back since a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 29th, making the performance even more notable under pressure.
Reflecting on the achievement, Soderblom said,
“It felt great. It’s been a long time coming and a lot of ups and downs, but to finally get it done felt great. The guys did a great job in front today. I thought we played our defensive system flawlessly. It was really good.”
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill expressed his support for Soderblom, noting the challenges faced as a backup goalie.
“Guys are happy for [Soderblom]. The life of backup goalies, sometimes you get some tough games, and we’ve kind of hung him out to dry a few times, to be honest with you. I think everybody was really happy for him, he’s a great, great teammate, he’s a great professional, goes about his business and does his job, and so guys were eager on the bench to try to get that done for him.”
Teravainen’s Dual Goals and Foligno’s Milestone Highlight Offense
Teuvo Teravainen, fresh off the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 where he helped Team Finland claim bronze, contributed both a power-play goal and a short-handed goal that energized the Blackhawks’ offense. Teravainen opened the scoring at 19:05 in the first period by capitalizing on a rebound and slipping the puck past Utah’s goaltender, Karel Vejmelka.
Nick Foligno’s 250th NHL goal came midway through the second period at 11:38. He seized a loose puck near the crease and executed a backhand move to extend Chicago’s lead to 2-0. Coach Blashill praised Foligno’s skill and achievement, saying,
“[Foligno has] great hands around the net. What a great number for him, man. That’s a great job.”
Shortly after Foligno’s goal, Landon Slaggert added to the scoreboard by firing a wrist shot from the slot that deflected off Vejmelka’s glove and into the net.
Strong Defensive Play Supports Blackhawks’ Dominance
Chicago’s defense proved instrumental in controlling the game, limiting Utah’s offensive chances and supporting Soderblom’s shutout effort. Defenseman Alex Vlasic, who assisted on the team’s final goal, highlighted the collective team effort:
“I think more importantly, it was just a really good win all around. It didn’t feel like we gave them any chances. It felt like we played a really solid team game and everybody contributed. So I think that was the biggest takeaway for us tonight.”
Blashill also noted how effective Chicago’s breakout plays were after the Olympic break, saying,
“Coming out of the break, we’ve played pretty good. We’ve limited a lot of chances. The difference probably tonight was we broke the puck out really, really, really well. So then you don’t have to defend as much. I think that’s probably the biggest difference.”
Mammoth Struggle Despite Vejmelka’s Efforts and Coach’s Calls to Improve
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 24 saves but was unable to prevent a series of goals, as his team fell to 31-25-4 on the season. Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny emphasized the urgency in their playoff push:
“We need two points every night, and we’re in a [heck] of a race. That game has to be won. We need to take that game and learn, and that has to hurt big time so we make sure that doesn’t happen again. If that’s the purpose of that game, it is what it is. But there’s no reason for us to play like that.”
Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev added his perspective on Utah’s performance, saying,
“I think we were just disconnected all over the ice with the puck, without the puck on our breakouts, on our ozone play. It just felt disconnected.”
Teravainen Seals Victory with Short-Handed Goal in Third Period
Early in the third period, Teravainen completed his impressive night by scoring a short-handed goal at 1:25, beating Vejmelka with a wrist shot to finalize the 4-0 score. The power-play and penalty-killing contributions by Teravainen underscored his influence in both special teams.
Implications for Blackhawks as Playoffs Approach
The win provides Chicago with momentum heading into the critical stretch of the NHL season. With solid defensive execution, strong goaltending from Soderblom, and consistent scoring options including Teravainen and Foligno, the Blackhawks aim to build on this performance. The team’s ability to recover from recent losses and maintain discipline in their defensive scheme could prove vital in their playoff push.
For the Mammoth, the loss highlights areas requiring urgent improvement if they hope to secure a postseason berth. Coach Tourigny’s focus on learning from the defeat and increasing consistency will be essential. Both teams now face demanding schedules where every game carries heightened importance.
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