The Blackhawks got a reminder right away that the margin for error is thin. In their season opener in Las Vegas, Chicago fell 5-2 to the Golden Knights, who leaned on a deep, dangerous lineup and a fast start to control the night.
Jack Eichel led the way for Vegas with a three-point performance, finishing with a goal and two assists. Victor Olofsson, Trevor Connelly, Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone also found the net, with Stone adding the empty-netter.
Chicago did have some bright spots, and Jordan Greenway gave the Blackhawks their first goal of the season with a sharp finish to beat Carter Hart. Wyatt Kaiser helped create the play with a strong move, and Ryan Greene was part of the setup before Greenway cashed in.
That fourth line of Greene, Greenway and Cole Smith stood out for Chicago even in defeat. The group generated chances, spent time keeping Vegas from settling in, and came away with a goal. They are expected to be an energy line over the course of the season, but they showed they can bring more than just hustle in this one.
Patrick Kane provided the night’s biggest Chicago moment. He scored his first goal back in a Blackhawks sweater since 2023, before his trade to the New York Rangers, and he did it the old-fashioned way: on a breakaway, all skill and patience. Vintage Patrick Kane was on full display there.
Kane finished with 4 shots, 8 shot attempts, and 21:36 of ice time. The Blackhawks didn’t bring him in just for the nostalgia, even if the story has plenty of that built in. He’s there to produce and help younger players grow.
Spencer Knight kept Chicago from being buried much earlier. He stopped 32 of 36 shots and faced a steady wave of Vegas pressure, especially when the Golden Knights attacked with speed off the rush. Chicago had trouble early handling that pace, and Knight absorbed most of the damage.
For a young team opening the season against a club that reached the Stanley Cup Final in June, the challenge was steep. Vegas looked every bit like a team built to win in bunches, and Chicago is still working through the process of becoming more competitive as the year goes on.
There was also an injury concern for Andrew Mangiapane. He was involved in several first-period chances, but left after one shift in the second period and did not return. After the game, Jeff Blashill said Mangiapane would not play again on the current road trip, which still has two games left.
Roman Kantserov made his NHL debut and showed flashes of offensive ability even without a point. He logged 17:07 of ice time, recorded one shot and three hits, and did not turn the puck over while also picking up a takeaway. When Mangiapane exited, Kantserov was among the players who took some of those shifts, and Blashill already appears willing to trust him.
Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith and Jordan Greenway also made their Blackhawks debuts in the game. Greenway’s goal was the headliner among that group, but each of them had moments that suggested they can contribute as Chicago tries to steady itself.
The loss leaves Chicago at 0-1-0. The Blackhawks now head to Salt Lake City for a Central Division matchup with the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.
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The tension now is less about Kanes arrival than about who gets left out when the lineup is finalized. Tervinen has been in the middle of that uncertainty as the Blackhawks balance experience, roles and ice time, and it is the kind of roster call that can say plenty about where a team thinks it is headed. For a fan base that already knows what Kane brings, the more immediate question is how Chicago manages the pieces around him without creating a bigger problem elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
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Jordan Greenway gave Chicago its first goal of the season, and the Blackhawks also got a score from Patrick Kane in his first game back with the club since 2023, which at least gave the opener some energy before Vegas pulled away. The bigger question now is how quickly Chicago can turn those individual bright spots into something more stable, because the opener did not exactly hide the gaps in structure, discipline, or depth that can show up fast once the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks May Already Be Testing Roman Kantserov For A Bigger Role
Roman Kantserov arrived in Chicago with a reputation built in the KHL, where he finished as the leagues leading goal-scorer, and the Blackhawks have already treated him like more than a newcomer easing into NHL life. He has spent time on the top line, and the team has also been willing to move him around, including a look at center during the preseason, a sign they are trying to find out how much he can handle right away.
Jeff Blashill has pointed to Kantserovs hockey IQ, two-way play and adaptability as traits that could help him become a solid piece for the Blackhawks. The bigger question now is how far Chicago wants to push that experiment, and whether the early testing is simply part of the learning curve or the start of a much larger role in the middle of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]