The Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8) won their first shootout of the season and second game past regulation since Oct. 9 when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6) 4-3 Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Carter Hart was brilliant in his Golden Knights debut and first NHL appearance in nearly two years. He was particularly clutch in overtime when he made six saves, one of which came in the final second of the extra frame.
The Golden Knights overcame two one-goal deficits, with Braeden Bowman scoring the equalizer with just 2:28 remaining in the third period.
Shea Theodore scored the game-winner in the shootout. He was one of three Golden Knights to finish with multi-point performances, joining Bowman and Ivan Barbashev. Ben Hutton also scored his third goal of the year.
The two clubs scored a goal apiece in each period.
Vegas opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the contest on an own goal by Barbashev, as his centering feed deflected off a Blackhawks skate.
But the Blackhawks answered quickly, scoring on their first shot of the game as Oliver Moore ripped a shot from the slot that beat Hart top-shelf.
Tyler Bertuzzi gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead 11:22 into the middle frame. It was not Hart’s finest moment, as he came out to play the puck at the hash marks but shot it into Bertuzzi. The puck then deflected over Hart and into the yawning cage.
The Golden Knights challenged the play for offside but lost, which is an extremely rare occurrence for the Golden Knights under Bruce Cassidy.
But Vegas answered when Hutton’s shot from the point hit a Blackhawk and found its way into the back of the net, making it a 2-2 game at 17:19.
Chicago grabbed the lead once again less than five minutes into the third period on an incredible individual effort by Connor Bedard.
Hart made several big stops in the third period, including right before Vegas reset the score.
It took three tries, as Chicago netminder Spencer Knight shut down Vegas’ first few bids, but Bowman’s persistence paid off as the Golden Knights tied the game with under three minutes left.
For the 10th time in just 26 games, the Golden Knights headed to overtime.
Once again, the Golden Knights were outplayed in the extra frame, though they had a few great scoring chances. Mark Stone had a breakaway opportunity, and Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin had a 2-on-1 that was shut down by a great pad save by Knight. Hanifin didn’t elevate the puck, but it was still a fantastic stop by Chicago’s young netminder.
Even so, it was Chicago that was in control in the extra frame.
If not for Hart, the Golden Knights would have lost this game in overtime. Period.
He was sensational when his team needed him the most, stopping all six shots he faced. He stood especially tall when Vegas was stuck without a stick for an extended period of essentially 3-on-2 hockey. He even made a last-second, point-blank stop on Ryan Donato to help Vegas reach the shootout.
There, he turned aside three of Chicago’s four attempts, with the lone exception being a filthy move by Bedard.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored in the first round, and Theodore used his go-to backhand move to seal the win in round four.
The Golden Knights were not at their best, but it was a relatively evenly-matched game. But the Golden Knights scored when they needed to and also got timely saves. Vegas never trailed by more than a goal, and the game was tied at the end of each period.
Bowman came through with the clutch tally to tie it late, as he continues to impress. He now has five goals and nine points in just 11 games, and he is the fastest player to reach five goals in Golden Knights history.
Vegas had some good looks but were unable to convert on the power play, though Chicago defenseman Wyatt Kaizer made an outstanding glove save on one of Dorofeyev’s best looks.
But Stone, who now has at least a point in all 10 games he’s played this season, continues to find lanes to set up Dorofeyev and Hertl, and those wide-open looks will go in more often than not.
That being said, the Vegas penalty kill was superb, going 5-for-5 and limiting Chicago considerably. Vegas was especially strong along the boards, preventing the Blackhawks from generating sustained pressure. In total, the Hawks recorded just four shots on five power plays.
Notably, Knight had a strong game in net for Chicago. He finished the game with 25 saves on 28 shots (.893 save percentage) and came up with two massive stops in overtime.
But Hart was the story of the game.
Not only was it his Vegas debut, but it was his first NHL appearance and first NHL win since January 2024. Despite some early rust and a few rough moments, he settled in and played extremely well. He got better as the game wore on, both in his overall play and focus. He was locked in in the third period, and he was lights-out in overtime.
“I don’t even have the words to explain,” Hart said in his post-game interview on ESPN. “It’s just so good to be back. … I’m just grateful for the opportunity here. Huge win tonight. It just feels so good; it’s hard to put into words.”
Hart, who had many family members in attendance, was emotional when discussing his road back to the NHL.
“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to get back to this point without [my family]. I’m very grateful. … It’s just so good to be back.”
He was named the third star of the game.
The Golden Knights finished their homestand with a 2-1-1 record, collecting five out of a possible eight points. They will hit the road for a five-game swing that starts Friday in New Jersey.
Photo credit: Ian Maule-AP