The Blackhawks stole one. They lost the expected-goals battle 2.28–2.56 and won anyway.
Chicago's dominance was less overwhelming than the scorecard suggests. The Mammoth carried the expected-goals advantage (2.56 to 2.28), which means Utah actually generated better shot quality—but couldn't finish. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, turned their limited chances into four goals.
Chicago finished 3 for 23 on rush attempts, and that efficiency mattered. Teuvo Teravainen's snap shot from the high slot proved the difference. The Mammoth answered with nothing; they mustered only three high-danger chances and converted zero. Utah's workload—28 shot attempts—suggested pressure, but the underlying numbers told a different story. K. Vejmelka faced those 28 attempts and allowed 1.72 more goals than expected. A. Soderblom stopped 2.56 above expectation, posting a perfect 22-for-22 night.
The gap between what the numbers promised and what happened is instructive. Utah dominated possession at 44% of shot attempts (22 to 28), yet that volume never translated to dangerous position play. Chicago, with fewer attempts, concentrated their threat—six high-danger chances to Utah's three. The Blackhawks made their advantages count. Teravainen finished with two goals; A. Vlasic and C. Murphy each contributed an assist.
This wasn't a game of parity dressed up in a blowout. It was an execution gap—Utah didn't miss by a little, and Chicago didn't get lucky. The Mammoth left points on the table by failing to convert high-quality looks. The Blackhawks punished every mistake.
