{"id":676827,"date":"2026-10-02T12:45:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T12:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/676827\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T12:45:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T12:45:43","slug":"mammoth-open-season-with-6-0-win-over-blackhawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/676827\/","title":{"rendered":"Mammoth open season with 6-0 win over Blackhawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (27) and Chicago Blackhawks center Oliver Moore (11) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) scores a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players celebrate a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

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(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players shove each other as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players shove each other as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans celebrate a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) scores a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) takes a stick to the chin from Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans celebrate a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans celebrate a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans celebrate a goal as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tusky as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Head Coach Andr\u00e9 Tourigny as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) slugs Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"(Trent<\/p>\n

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tusky as the Utah Mammoth host the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829<\/p>\n

If you didn\u2019t know any better, you may have thought you had been transported back in time Thursday night at the Delta Center.<\/p>\n

Raucous crowd. Eager anticipation. Blackhawks in town. It all felt eerily similar to the franchise\u2019s opening game two years ago.<\/p>\n

The first goal that night? That belonged to Dylan Guenther.<\/p>\n

Well, he lit the lamp again to open the Mammoth\u2019s 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

With 3:19 remaining in the first period, Guenther sent a ricocheting puck from the right circle into the back of the net, giving Utah an early lead en route to a dominant 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.<\/p>\n

Less than a minute later, before the arena had even quieted from Guenther\u2019s goal, Michael Carcone added a second.<\/p>\n

And with that, the Mammoth\u2019s third season in Utah was underway.<\/p>\n

Get Top Stories newsletter. The day\u2019s biggest stories every morning, delivered right to your inbox.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to get off to a good start,\u201d Guenther said postgame. \u201cIt feels good to get going early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once they got going, Utah didn\u2019t slow down.<\/p>\n

The onslaught continued in the second period when Nick Schmaltz tapped in an early goal. A few minutes later, Anders Lee put Utah up 4-0, giving the longtime New York Islanders captain his first goal as a member of the Mammoth.<\/p>\n

Then, the man who started scoring got on the board again. Guenther added his second goal with 4:32 left in the middle stanza.<\/p>\n

In the third period, Carcone found the net again to put the Mammoth up 6-0. In all, 14 different Utah players recorded a point. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka had 15 saves, highlighting Utah\u2019s sixth-ever shutout.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust having a lot of pace in the D-zone \u2014 we talked about that a lot,\u201d forward Clayton Keller said. \u201cTaking away their time and space. I think we did a good job of that tonight and we got to continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Utah Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge noted that \u201cUtah shows up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He may not have been talking about the hockey specifically, but it certainly fit.<\/p>\n

Because that felt like an understatement on Thursday.<\/p>\n

It felt like just about everyone \u2014 whether two years old or 80 \u2014 was decked out in blue-and-black Mammoth gear. Before the game, fans stood in lines that wrapped around the arena for a chance to spin a wheel and walk away with some Mammoth gear.<\/p>\n

If you spent time listening in on some conversations in the Delta Center, the topics would weave between the excitement of opening night and why this year felt different for the Mammoth.<\/p>\n

This much was clear: In their third year of existence, the Mammoth have become a Utah staple. Just like fry sauce, dirty soda or the Jazz.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

The atmosphere in the Delta Center is electric.<\/p>\n

At certain points in the first period, the chants would reverberate throughout the arena. It doesn\u2019t really matter whether you care about the game or the Mammoth.<\/p>\n

Being in the building is an experience in itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery game that I coach in that building, it\u2019s been amazing,\u201d Mammoth head coach Andr\u00e9 Tourigny said. \u201cThey\u2019re supportive. They are into it. They\u2019re loud. They\u2019re great. We get spoiled. … They showed up like usual in Utah.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the culture the Mammoth have built.<\/p>\n

And now it\u2019s back for another year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a good start,\u201d Keller said. \u201cObviously, it\u2019s a start that you want to have \u2014 a big win like this. Now, you have to keep it going. Have a short memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

sltrib.com is now free to access \u2014 no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn\u2019t depend on what you can afford \u2014 especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.<\/p>\n

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You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) as the Utah Mammoth…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":676828,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[96,1519,5,4,51,5290,232,3154,5291,5289],"class_list":["post-676827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-utah-hockey-club","tag-chicago-blackhawks","tag-dylan-guenther","tag-hockey","tag-nhl","tag-utah","tag-utah-hc","tag-utah-hockey-club","tag-utah-mammoth","tag-utahhc","tag-utahhockeyclub"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/117371386813463402","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676827\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/676828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}