Eichel hits 700 points as Golden Knights beat Blackhawks in Ryan Craig’s
first game behind the bench
[September 30, 2026]
By W.G. RAMIREZ
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists
to reach 701 career points, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the
Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in their season opener Tuesday night.
Victor Olofsson notched Vegas’ first goal of the season, rookie Trevor
Connelly scored in his NHL debut and Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone added
goals as Ryan Craig earned his first victory as the Golden Knights’ head
coach. Carter Hart made 24 saves. |
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Trevor Connelly (24) scores between
Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) and goaltender Spencer Knight
(30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29,
2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP) |
|
Jordan Greenway and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, and Spencer
Knight stopped 32 shots.
Kane marked his return to the franchise he helped lead to three
Stanley Cup championships with a third-period goal, but Chicago
couldn’t complete the comeback.
Craig took over after six seasons as a Vegas assistant and three
coaching its AHL affiliate in Henderson. He inherited a veteran
team that reached last season’s Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas got scoring from five players after trading Pavel
Dorofeyev, its leading goal scorer last season with 37,
including 20 on the man advantage.
Olofsson opened the scoring midway through the first period when
his power-play wrist shot found the top shelf from the far side.
Connelly doubled the lead when he flipped a rebound over
Knight’s pads.
Greenway scored late in the second when his shot from the right
circle flew past Hart, cutting Vegas’ lead to 2-1.
Kane trimmed the deficit to one early in the third with a slick
backhand, but Hanifin answered shortly thereafter to restore the
two-goal cushion.
Stone’s empty-netter provided the final margin.
Chicago opened without Connor Bedard, who is recovering from
shoulder surgery and isn’t expected back until late October at
the earliest.
Up next
Blackhawks: Visit Utah on Thursday night.
Golden Knights: Host Anaheim on Friday night.
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