After losing a 4-0 decision to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks lost their home opener 5-3 to the Golden Knights on Saturday, October 21, at the United Center.
Rookie sensation Connor Bedard scored his first home goal of the season, given the Blackhawks an early 1-0 lead in the first period.
But the lead did not last for long, as the Golden Knights tied the game at 1-1 in the first period, 2-2 in the second period and outscored the Hawks 3-1 in the 3rd period to put the game away for good.
According to the Associated Press, Chicago went 1 for 5 on the power play against the Golden Knights. It is 2 for 27 with the man advantage on the season, also allowing two short-handed goals.
“It was big for our power play, I think, to see one go in,” said Bedard via the AP. “But obviously now, it doesn’t feel as good, but in the moment, it was great for sure.”
With the loss, the Blackhawks are now 4-4-2 against the Golden Knights in their last ten games since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
Chicago has also taken points in four of their last five games against the Golden Nights at the United Center dating back to January 12, 2019.
Prior to the game, the Blackhawks organization mentioned that new team acquisition Taylor Hall has eight points (3G, 5A) in eight career games against the Golden Knights, including points (16, 1A) in his last two matchups against the club.
During their last meeting versus the Golden Knights, Blackhawks player Tyler Johnson also had success. He scored two points (15, 1), including a game tying goal and the shootout winner.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Chicago opened the home portion of their schedule with a 4-3 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings. Andreas Athanasiou, Philipp Kurashev and Connor Murphy all scored once during the victory.
Although the Hawks continue to lose close games, Bedard is considered one of the greatest ice hockey prospects of his generation, he was selected first overall by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
He was selected by the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft in 2020 as the first WHL player of exceptional status, and won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie player in his debut season.
In his third year in the WHL, he won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league’s leading scorer and was given the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as its most valuable player, before also earning the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Scorer and Player of the Year honours.
The phenom out of Canada was also the inaugural recipient of the IIHF Male Player of the Year award.
(Information courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks and Connor Bedard bio).
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
