For the third time in 12 days, the Chicago Blackhawks (24-29-11) face off with the Utah Mammoth (34-26-5), with the fourth and final meeting of the season series being held at the Delta Center on Thursday.
The Mammoth are surely sick of seeing the Blackhawks at this point, as they’ve dropped all three matchups so far in 2025-26. Chicago won 3-1 on Oct. 13, 4-0 on Mar. 1, and 3-2 (OT) in the most recent tilt on Mar. 9. Just three days ago, Frank Nazar scored the overtime winner to help the Blackhawks complete the comeback after falling behind 2-1. Andrew Mangiapane scored his first goal with his new club, while Andre Burakovsky also snapped a 19-game goal drought. Drew Commesso recorded his second NHL win of the season with 23 saves.
While the Blackhawks had the last two days off following the win, the Mammoth traveled to Minnesota for the back end of a back-to-back against the Wild on Tuesday to conclude a five-game road trip. Utah was blanked 5-0 by Filip Gustavsson and the Wild and has now dropped two consecutive games.
Despite two straight defeats, the Mammoth still holds the top Wild Card playoff spot in the Western Conference with 73 points through 65 games. They have a six-point cushion over the Los Angeles Kings, who are currently the first team outside the playoff picture. With 59 points through 64 games, the Blackhawks are third-last in the Conference and are nine points back of a playoff spot.
Here’s everything else to note before the puck drops at 8:00 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Blackhawks Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Ryan Greene — Connor Bedard – Andre Burakovsky
Tyler Bertuzzi — Frank Nazar — Teuvo Teravainen
Andrew Mangiapane — Ryan Donato — Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Lardis — Sam Lafferty — Landon Slaggert
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Sam Rinzel
Matt Grzelcyk-Artyom Levshunov
Scratched
D — Ethan Del Mastro
Injured
F — Oliver Moore (lower-body)
***
Mammoth Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Clayton Keller — Nick Schmaltz — Dylan Guenther
JJ Peterka — Logan Cooley — Logan Crouse
Jack McBain — Barrett Hayton — Kailer Yamamoto
Alexander Kerfoot — Kevin Stenlund — Michael Carcone
Defensive Pairings
Sean Durzi-MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt-John Marino
Ian Cole-Nick DeSimone
Scratched
F — Liam O’Brien, F — Brandon Tanev
Injured
D — Mikhail Sergachev (lower body)
***
Sergachev has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury. Sergachev is once again listed as a game-time decision against the Blackhawks.
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Arvid Soderblom (6-10-3, 3.70 GAA, .876 Sv%, 1 SO) vs. Karel Vejmelka (30-17-2, 2.69 GAA, .899 Sv%, 1 SO)
Soderblom is expected to make his 20th start of the season for the Blackhawks. The 26-year-old allowed four goals on 31 shots faced to earn the overtime loss against the Dallas Stars in his most recent start on Sunday. Soderblom is 1-2-0 with a 2.36 GAA, .922 Sv%, and one shutout in three career games against Utah.
Vejmelka is expected to make his 51st start of the season for the Mammoth. The 29-year-old allowed five goals on 30 shots faced to record the loss in his last appearance against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Vejmelka is 5-1-2 with a 2.68 GAA and .906 Sv% in eight career games against Chicago.
2025-26 Results vs. Mammoth
Chicago is 3-0-0 against Utah this season and has earned points in four of their last five games against them (4-1-0). The Blackhawks have also earned a point in eight of their past 12 road games (5-4-3) this season.
10/13/25 — 3-1 W, United Center
03/01/26 — 4-0 W, Delta Center
03/09/26 — 3-2 W (OT), United Center
03/12/26 — Delta Center
2025-26 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Tyler Bertuzzi (27)
Assists — Connor Bedard (34)
Points — Connor Bedard (60)
GF/GP — 2.64 (27th)
GA/GP — 3.16 (22nd)
PP% — 19.4% (20th)
PK% — 85.5% (1st)
FOW% — 46.6% (30th)
Utah Mammoth:
Goals — Dylan Guenther (30)
Assists — Clayton Keller (45)
Points — Clayton Keller (64)
GF/GP — 3.12 (16th)
GA/GP — 2.78 (4th)
PP% — 16.7% (26th)
PK% — 78.6% (19th)
FOW% — 49.5% (19th)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Chicago Blackhawks (24-29-11, 58 points) @ Utah Mammoth (34-26-5, 73 points)
8:00 p.m. CT — Delta Center
Head Coaches: Jeff Blashill (CHI), Andre Tourigny (UTA)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Pang), Utah16
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)
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