SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club celebrated a historic moment in its inaugural NHL game by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night. This victory marked the first win in the franchise’s history.
The team found success right from the start, with Dylan Guenther scoring the first goal of the game just under five minutes in. Utah’s captain, Clayton Keller, quickly doubled the lead, making it 2-0 nearly ten minutes later.
“It was pretty cool,” Guenther reflected on the energy in the arena. “That building was special. It was a ton of fun to play in front of that crowd.”
Utah extended its lead to 3-0 midway through the second period when Mikhail Sergachev assisted Barrett Hayton. This commanding lead instilled confidence in the crowd, but things became tense when Chicago’s Teuvo Teravainen scored near the end of the second period, cutting Utah’s lead to 3-1.
The action escalated shortly after Teravainen’s goal, resulting in a scuffle along the boards that led to penalties for several players, including Keller, who received a minor penalty.
As the game progressed, the atmosphere grew more intense when Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored early in the third period, narrowing Utah’s lead to 3-2. This prompted anxiety among the home fans, who feared a collapse despite their team’s earlier dominance.
The crowd watched closely as Connor Bedard of Chicago attempted a lacrosse-style goal, which ultimately did not succeed. Utah goaltender Connor Ingram rose to the occasion, making crucial saves to maintain the lead as the Blackhawks pressed the attack.
Ingram concluded the night with 24 saves, while his teammates managed to block another 23 shots. Guenther sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, his second of the night, followed by a goal from Lawson Crouse, concluding the game at 5-2.
“This win is undoubtedly special,” Ingram remarked, adding that it provided a valuable learning experience for the team. Alongside the excitement of the game, players participated in morning preparations at the arena, which included last-minute touches in an atmosphere charged with anticipation from fans.
Utah coach Andre Tourigny noted the significance of the day and the memory it will create for the team. “One day we will look back on this,” he said, acknowledging the support from across the league. Tourigny also expressed eagerness for the regular-season routine to settle in after a whirlwind debut.