He came close to earning a shutout, but a late goal in the third period tied the game. The Jets eventually secured the win in overtime.
This was the kind of performance the Blackhawks rarely saw from Soderblom last season.
Soderblom struggled significantly during the 2023-24 season. He was expected to secure the starting goalie position for the foreseeable future but ended up ranking among the NHL’s worst netminders.
His struggles were so pronounced that it seemed the Blackhawks were ready to move on after signing Laurent Brossoit in the offseason. However, Brossoit’s knee surgery, which required time on the sidelines, gave Soderblom another chance.
In his first start of the season against the Winnipeg Jets, Soderblom delivered perhaps his best performance for the Blackhawks.
He stopped the first 33 shots he faced over nearly 59 minutes of play, managing to prevent second-chance opportunities from slipping through.
It was the kind of showing that made fans wonder where this version of Soderblom was last season. He went head-to-head with Connor Hellebuyck for almost 59 minutes.
Yet, facing the Jets—who always seem to find a way to score—Mark Scheifele tied the game with just 1:04 left in regulation. Fortunately, the Blackhawks had a goal on the board, thanks to Ryan Donato’s second-period tally against Hellebuyck.
The Blackhawks managed to grab a point from the game, with Soderblom’s only real setback being Scheifele’s late goal. Scheifele then sealed the Jets’ win with another goal in overtime, sending Winnipeg fans home happy.
While the Blackhawks earned a moral victory, it’s a type of consolation their veteran players are growing weary of.
Soderblom is likely to return to Rockford once Brossoit is back from injured reserve. Still, he proved himself to be a capable NHL goaltender during Brossoit’s absence—at least for one night.
It’s just a shame that Scheifele’s two late shots denied him a much-deserved shutout.
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