Eichel Reaches 700 Points as Golden Knights Beat Blackhawks 5-2 in Ryan Craig's Debut
LAS VEGAS | Final: Vegas 5, Chicago 2
The Vegas Golden Knights opened their 10th season and the Ryan Craig era the way a defending conference champion should. Jack Eichel scored once, set up two more and passed 700 career points, rookie Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut, and Vegas answered every Chicago push to beat the Blackhawks 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena.
Craig, who coached the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights for the past three seasons, won his first game as an NHL head coach with his family in the building.
How It Happened
A fast start. Vegas controlled the first period. Victor Olofsson scored the franchise's first goal of the season on the power play, finishing a crossing pass from Eichel as he drove the net. Connelly, Vegas' top prospect, then scored his first NHL goal to make it 2-0 after one.
Chicago pushes back. Jordan Greenway got the Blackhawks on the board at 12:23 of the second period, taking a drop pass from Ryan Greene and beating Carter Hart blocker side for his first goal with Chicago since arriving from Buffalo in June.
Eichel's milestone. At 15:12 of the second, Ivan Barbashev found Eichel from below the goal line, and Eichel tucked it into the top corner for a 3-1 lead and his 700th career point. He became the ninth U.S.-born player to reach 700 points in fewer than 700 games.
Kane's homecoming goal. Patrick Kane, playing his first game for Chicago since February 2023, scored on a breakaway at 4:04 of the third to cut it to 3-2. It was the moment Blackhawks fans had been waiting for.
Vegas slams the door. Just 39 seconds later, Noah Hanifin finished an odd-man rush with a wrist shot from the high slot to restore the two-goal lead. Chicago pulled Spencer Knight with 2:45 remaining, and Mark Stone sealed it with an empty-net goal.
Standout Performers
Jack Eichel, VGK: One goal, two assists, and his 700th and 701st career points.
Ivan Barbashev, VGK: Two assists, including the setup on Eichel's milestone goal.
Trevor Connelly, VGK: A goal in his NHL debut.
William Karlsson, VGK: Won 12 of 17 faceoffs as one of three original Golden Knights still with the team in Season X.
Spencer Knight, CHI: 32 saves and kept Chicago in the game while facing 37 shots.
Patrick Kane, CHI: A breakaway goal and four shots in 21:36, most among Blackhawks forwards.
The Struggles
Chicago without its captain. The Blackhawks played without Connor Bedard, their captain and leading scorer, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and is not expected back until late October at the earliest. Without him, the offense leaned on Kane and Greenway, and the Blackhawks managed 26 shots.
Chicago's response time. Twice the Blackhawks cut the lead to one, and twice Vegas answered quickly, including the Hanifin goal just 39 seconds after Kane's. Young teams have to learn to manage the minutes after a big goal.
Injury concern. Blackhawks forward Andrew Mangiapane left with a lower-body injury after taking just one shift in the second period.
Vegas' only blemish. The Golden Knights committed 22 giveaways, with Parker Wotherspoon responsible for five. Against a more dangerous opponent, that could have been costly.
What It Means
For Vegas: The defending Western Conference champions look every bit the contender. Eichel was dominant, Hart made 24 saves, and the Golden Knights got goals from five different players, including a rookie. Craig's first message landed.
For Chicago: There were real positives: Kane's return goal, Greenway's first as a Blackhawk, Roman Kantserov's NHL debut and a strong game from Knight. The Blackhawks are trying to end a six-year playoff drought, and they need to stay afloat until Bedard returns.
Up Next
Chicago: at Utah Mammoth, Thursday, Oct. 1
Vegas: vs. Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Oct. 2
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