Blackhawks stifle Mammoth with 'flawless' execution of new defensive systems

SALT LAKE CITY — The Blackhawks have focused on their breakouts from the defensive zone during this road trip.

In Nashville, the breakouts were problematic. In Colorado, they were good but imperfect. In Utah, they were excellent.

Backup goalie Arvid Soderblom made 22 saves to record his first career shutout in the Hawks' 4-0 win over the Mammoth, but his teammates made his Sunday afternoon fairly easy.

"It's been a long time coming [through] a lot of ups and downs, but to finally get it done felt great," Soderbom said. "The guys did a great job in front today. I thought we played our defensive system flawless. It was really good. We took away rebounds and everything."

The Hawks altered their breakout strategy in conjunction with changes to their overall defensive structure in practices after the Olympic break, and captain Nick Foligno said Friday they knew they might struggle with it during an adjustment period. They hoped better communication between forwards and defensemen could help them sort out the unfamiliar reads.

After spending ample time in practice Friday working on it, then reviewing on Sunday morning video clips of breakouts during Saturday's loss to the Avalanche, it all clicked in their franchise's first-ever victory in Utah.

"Coming out of the break, we've played pretty good," coach Jeff Blashill said. "We've limited a lot of chances. The difference tonight was we broke the puck out really, really well, so then you don't have to defend as much."

The Hawks also got the depth scoring they've craved. Teuvo Teravainen scored on both the power play and penalty kill, and Nick Foligno and Landon Slaggert's fourth line broke the game open with second-period goals less than two minutes apart.

Standout D

The Hawks have come to rely immensely on Alex Vlasic and Louis Crevier's defensive pairing to shut things down whenever they sense momentum shifting against them, and that duo was superb Sunday.

Vlasic, in particular, enjoyed one of his best performances of the season, doing his best Victor Hedman impression. His long stick broke up dozens of Mammoth passes and stripped the puck from guys who chose not to pass.

And after getting those stops, he singlehandedly transported the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone on at least four occasions. The fourth led to Teravainen's shorthanded tally.

"Sometimes the legs are going; sometimes they're not," Vlasic said with his signature grin. "I think the high altitude in Colorado kind of got me last night, but...my legs were chugging along tonight."

Said Blashill: "[Vlasic] was excellent tonight. He skated the puck out of trouble a ton. ... When you can skate like that, you can skate it up, and you can win your race on the way back, as well. It was a really strong game for him, but I think he's played very well for a long time."

Rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov also enjoyed his best — and definitely his most physical — performance in a while. Since a costly first-period turnover in Nashville, he has calmed down and earned compliments from Blashill.

"The package is what's going to make [Levshunov] a special player," Blashill said. "It's the physicality, the good defense and the ability to move the puck and create some offense."

Notes

Sam Rinzel missed his second consecutive game due to illness, with Kevin Korchinski replacing him but receiving limited ice time.

Wyatt Kaiser (knee injury) won't face the Jets on Tuesday but is expected to practice fully Thursday, meaning he will likely return Friday — deadline day — at home against the Canucks.