Mammoth Aim to Stay Perfect on Road Trip Against Struggling Blackhawks

Utah looks to extend winning streak as Chicago tries to end recent skid

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The surging Utah Mammoth will aim to stay perfect on their five-game road trip as they visit the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Utah has won its last three games, including an overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, to strengthen its hold on a Western Conference wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have lost 11 of their last 13 games and are coming off a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. Chicago will be without injured forward Oliver Moore, while the Mammoth may be without defenseman Mikhail Sergachev due to a lower-body injury.

Why it matters

This matchup features a red-hot Utah team looking to extend its winning streak against a struggling Chicago squad trying to turn things around. The Mammoth's recent success has helped them solidify their position in the playoff race, while the Blackhawks' recent skid has them falling further behind in the standings.

The details

The Mammoth acquired defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames, and he made his team debut in the win over Columbus, contributing an assist, three blocks, two hits and a shot on goal. Utah coach Andre Tourigny praised Weegar's performance. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are dealing with injuries, as forward Oliver Moore was hurt in the loss to Dallas and will miss the game against Utah. Chicago will also be looking to get more shots on goal after being outshot 31-19 by the Stars.

  • The Mammoth and Blackhawks will face off on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • Utah has won its last three games, including an overtime victory against Columbus on Saturday.

The players

MacKenzie Weegar

A defenseman who was recently acquired by the Utah Mammoth from the Calgary Flames.

Andre Tourigny

The head coach of the Utah Mammoth.

Oliver Moore

A forward for the Chicago Blackhawks who was injured in the team's loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday and will miss the game against Utah.

Jeff Blashill

The head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nick Lardis

A forward for the Chicago Blackhawks who was recently recalled from the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like that third period was a bit of a playoff taste there with the physicality and the crowd was into it, and that's what it's going to be like down the stretch with these games.”

— MacKenzie Weegar (cbssports.com)

“He played really good. I like the way he moved the puck, blocked a few shots. Strong in his battles. We like him.”

— Andre Tourigny, Utah Mammoth Head Coach (cbssports.com)

“At times the ice tilted their way on us, so then you're defending a little bit more than you want to, but I also thought we passed up on some shots. We've got to make sure we have a good shooting mentality.”

— Jeff Blashill, Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach (cbssports.com)

“It was great to get that first stint. Learned a lot, and coming back here now, it feels a lot less stressful. ... [I want to] show that I can be trusted by the coaches more.”

— Nick Lardis, Chicago Blackhawks Forward (cbssports.com)

What’s next

The Mammoth and Blackhawks will face off again on Thursday, March 13, 2026 in Salt Lake City.

The takeaway

This game features a surging Utah team looking to extend its winning streak against a struggling Chicago squad trying to turn things around. The Mammoth's recent success has helped them solidify their playoff position, while the Blackhawks' skid has them falling behind in the standings. The outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for both teams' postseason hopes.