CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 13: Andre Burakovsky #28 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates after scoring a purpose through the third interval in opposition to the Utah Mammoth on October 13, 2025 on the United Middle in Chicago, Illinois. (Photograph by Melissa Tamez/Icon Spor
CHICAGO – Jeff Blashill’s first three video games with the Chicago Blackhawks had been one-goal losses determined within the third interval or additional time.
His fourth one was a long-awaited victory.
Blashill directed Chicago to a 3-1 win over Utah on Monday night time for his first victory since he was employed by the Blackhawks in Could.
“It was actually disappointing over the primary three video games that we had moments of fine hockey and put ourselves in place to win and did not,” Blashill stated. “So to get the win is sweet. For me personally, it is, you already know, it is a good feeling. You need to get that first one out of the best way, and hopefully there’s many extra to come back.”
Blashill, 51, is starting his second stint as a head coach within the NHL after he went 204-261-72 in seven seasons with Detroit. He was an assistant with Tampa Bay for the earlier three years.
The Michigan native is hoping to guide the Blackhawks out of a painful rebuilding challenge that had the staff in final place within the Central Division in every of the earlier three years.
This season simply began, however there have been some encouraging indicators.
“I like him as a coach and an individual,” goaltender Spencer Knight stated. “I actually recognize his eye for particulars, for constructing a method that’s sustainable over time to win not only one hockey recreation in October, however to construct a system that may win constantly over the course of a season after which hopefully into the postseason. That is what actually issues.”
The Blackhawks had been tied at 2 after two durations in every of their first three video games. They misplaced 4-3 in additional time at Boston on Thursday night time. They dropped their house opener on Saturday on Kaiden Guhle’s purpose with 15.7 seconds left, lifting Montreal to a 3-2 win .
Blashill’s staff had a 1-0 lead over Utah earlier than JJ Peterka scored for the Mammoth 1:02 into the third interval. However Andre Burakovsky scored a power-play purpose for Chicago at 8:55, and Ilya Mikheyev helped shut it out with an empty-netter within the ultimate seconds for his second purpose of the night time.
“We have been on this state of affairs 4 occasions now the place you already know they’re one-goal video games late,” Blashill stated. “That is factor. However it’s a must to discover methods to win. You’ll be able to’t simply be shut in these video games. You must proceed to seek out methods to win, which we did tonight.”
Like Knight, the 30-year-old Burakovsky additionally praised Blashill’s consideration to particulars, and he stated it performed a job within the victory over the Mammoth.
“I feel at the moment, although we possibly did not have a lot puck the entire time, I feel our particulars on the defensive facet had been actually good,” he stated. “And that is one thing we have been engaged on. So good job by him to assist us get via there.”
