St. Louis, Missouri; December 12th, 2025.
Two National Hockey League games concluded Friday night with regulation decisions in the Central and Western Conference matchups, as the St. Louis Blues held off the Chicago Blackhawks by a 3 to 2 margin, while the Utah Mammoth defeated the Seattle Kraken 5 to 3. Official league records, supported by team releases and secondary statistical reporting, confirm the outcomes, scoring sequences, and key individual performances from both contests.
In St. Louis, the Blues and Blackhawks met in another chapter of their long standing divisional rivalry. According to the NHL’s official gamecenter record, St. Louis struck early and built a lead that ultimately proved decisive, despite a late push from Chicago in the third period.
The Blues opened the scoring at 3:41 of the first period when defenseman Logan Mailloux recorded his first goal of the season. ESPN’s official play by play summary lists Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours as the assisting players on the opening goal, which came off sustained offensive zone pressure by St. Louis. The early goal set the tone for the opening frame, as the Blues continued to control possession through the neutral zone.
St. Louis doubled its lead later in the first period. At 11:48, forward Matt Luff found the net for his first goal of the season, extending the Blues’ advantage to 2 to 0. ESPN’s scoring log credits Robby Fabbri and Colton Parayko with assists on the play. Chicago responded before the end of the period, cutting the deficit to one when Wyatt Kaiser scored at 15:50. Andre Burakovsky and Connor Bedard were credited with assists, according to the official box score.
The second period featured tighter defensive play, though the Blues capitalized on one of their opportunities. At 8:57 of the second, Justin Faulk scored what would become the game winning goal. ESPN’s recap lists Tyler Tucker and Robert Thomas as the assists, marking Thomas’ second helper of the night. The Blues entered the third period with a 3 to 1 lead, having limited Chicago’s second period scoring chances.
Chicago made its push late in regulation. Andre Burakovsky scored at 14:08 of the third period, narrowing the score to 3 to 2 and giving the Blackhawks renewed momentum. Connor Bedard earned his second assist of the game on the play, according to official statistics. Despite the late goal, St. Louis closed out the final minutes without allowing an equalizer.
Goaltending played a significant role in the outcome. Reuters reported that Joel Hofer made 27 saves for St. Louis, while Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight stopped 23 shots in the loss. Reuters also reported that Bedard exited the game late following a faceoff incident, with the Blackhawks later listing him as day to day with an upper body injury.
While the Blues and Blackhawks game unfolded in Missouri, a higher scoring contest took place in Utah, where the Mammoth hosted the Seattle Kraken. Official NHL records confirm the Mammoth scored five goals on 37 shots, while Seattle recorded three goals on 35 shots.
The first period in Utah ended scoreless, as both goaltenders turned aside early chances. ESPN’s play by play data indicates that the pace increased in the second period, when the scoring opened. Seattle’s Mason Marchment scored to give the Kraken an early lead, continuing his recent offensive production. Utah responded later in the period when Kailer Yamamoto scored for the Mammoth, evening the game and shifting momentum back toward the home team.
The third period proved decisive. Dylan Guenther scored a power play goal to put Utah ahead, a goal ESPN identified as the game winner. Nick Schmaltz, who recorded multiple points in the game, was credited with an assist, according to the official scoring summary. Utah extended its lead with additional goals from JJ Peterka and Lawson Crouse, creating separation in the final frame.
Seattle continued to push offensively. Mason Marchment added a second goal, and Ben Meyers also found the net for the Kraken, but the comeback attempt fell short. Reuters and ESPN statistics confirm Seattle was unable to overcome Utah’s third period scoring surge.
Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka was a key factor in the win. ESPN’s recap lists Vejmelka with 33 saves, while Reuters noted he was one of the game’s standout performers. Nick Schmaltz finished with one goal and two assists, while Guenther’s power play goal marked his most impactful moment of the night.
Taken together, the two games reflected contrasting styles. The Blues relied on early scoring and defensive structure to secure a narrow victory, while the Mammoth leveraged special teams and third period offense to pull away from the Kraken. Both outcomes were finalized in regulation, with no overtime or shootout required, as confirmed by official NHL gamecenter records.
The NHL’s official statistical feeds, supplemented by ESPN’s play by play data and Reuters’ postgame reporting, provide a consistent account of the night’s events. No discrepancies were identified between league records and team level reporting for either contest.
At the Appalachian Post, our sports coverage is built on accuracy, clarity, and respect for the game. We report results the way they happen: cleanly, directly, and without exaggeration. Every recap focuses on the key plays, momentum shifts, and performances that define each matchup. We avoid speculation, bias, and hype, choosing instead to highlight the real story on the field, court, and ice. Our goal is to keep fans informed, grounded, and connected to the teams and leagues they love through straightforward, trustworthy reporting.
Sources
• NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE official gamecenter and boxscore, Blackhawks vs Blues
• NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE official gamecenter and boxscore, Kraken vs Mammoth
• ESPN NHL Game Recap and Play by Play, Blackhawks vs Blues
• ESPN NHL Game Recap and Play by Play, Kraken vs Mammoth
• Reuters, “Quick-striking Blues hold off rival Blackhawks,” December 13th, 2025
• Reuters, “Guenther scores winner as Mammoth beat Kraken,” December 13th, 2025
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