Instant Analysis: Late Vegas Goal Dooms Blackhawks Comeback Bid

CHICAGO – Connor Bedard buried the first Chicago Blackhawks goal of the season at the United Center. From there, the Blackhawks were snowed in with penalties. Whistled for four alone in the first period, they were able to calm the parade to the box in the second period, and were knotted at two heading into the third period.

But a goal from Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicholas Roy just 13 seconds into the third proved to be the winner even after the Blackhawks earned some mad advantages of their own in the third. Vegas would skate away with a 5-3 win

Bedard opened the scoring with his second of the year as he was in all alone after the faceoff on Chicago’s first power play. The Golden Knights answered right back with a power play goal of their own to even it at one.

Jonathan Marchessault gave Vegas the lead with a shot that trickled through Soderblom’s pads and just crossed the line. Soderblom’s reaction certainly indicated that he wanted that one back. But the Blackhawks answered right back when Reese Johnson redirected a shot from Connor Murphy that bounced past Adin Hill at the 11:10 mark of the second period.

But Vegas went ahead 3-2 within 13 seconds of the third, on a two-on-one play that evolved quickly and saw Roy tap the puck into the net off a perfect feed. Mark Stone would seal the game with a goal on the doorstep, giving Vegas the 4-2 lead and the insurance goal to put Chicago away. Vegas would get one more from Paul Cotter to make it 5-2, sending fans to the exits. Corey Perry scored with 15 seconds remaining, making it 5-3.

Reichel, Reese Johnson Stand Out for Blackhawks

Never mind Johnson’s goal. It was the multitude of hits he had, true glass rattlers as well as drawing a penalty. Reichel had a couple good passes that led to chances, looking more comfortable than he had in the previous game against Colorado. One of those golden chances came on a beautiful passing sequence when Reichel dropped it to Johnson to his right who slid it through the slot to Athanasiou–but Hill gobbled up the puck on a sliding save.

Soderblom stood tall again in the net, turning away a lot of aggressive rushes that ended with high danger chances. A glance at the heat map via Natural Stat Trick shows just concentrated Vegas was in attacking the low slot.

He’d likely want the second one back and the fourth goal was a tough luck goal that again, was scored down low. But the fifth goal was the exclamation point of Vegas’ attack. The Blackhawks struggled to contain them low, and paid for it in the third.