What if I told you the Blackhawks came out a little sluggish, gave up the first goal while chasing the puck and then… scored three times in the final four minutes of the first period? Yeah, it really happened. I swear it did. Nine different Blackhawks had a point in the period. It was something else. The Blackhawks out-shot the Golden Knights 13-5 in the first period.
The next goal was going to be important, and it took eight minutes into the second period for it to happen. And, unfortunately, it came off the stick of Tomáš Hertl, cutting the lead to one. And then the Blackhawks had to kill off two penalties in short order and only successfully handled the first. A spicy redirect from Hertl tied the game at three and it was all Vegas; shots were 15-2 in favor of the visitors at that point. When the dust settled at the end of 40 minutes, the Golden Knights out-shot the Blackhawks 17-3 — but the third shot of the period, from Seth Jones, went in and the Hawks took a one-goal lead to the room.
Wait for it… The next goal was going to be important, and it took four minutes into the third period for it to happen. And, fortunately this time, it came off the stick of Tyler Bertuzzi — his second power play goal of the night gave the Blackhawks their two-goal lead again.
Star 1: Lukas Reichel
I feel like I need a different font and color and maybe some kind of explosion that happens when I type this, but… THIS IS LUKAS REICHEL! We talk about ripping the seal off his offense so much that some fans question if it’s in there at all, and then we see moments like this and it’s just wow! Reichel won both of his faceoffs, put two shots on net and skated 4:13 in the first period.
Lukas Reichel takes a page out of Connor Bedard's book with this quick backhand-forehand shot. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/uW2wWwv31i
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 19, 2025
Star 2: Tyler Bertuzzi
The Blackhawks got a power play quickly after the Reichel goal and scored 26 seconds into the advantage. Bertuzzi put two shots on net in the first period, this one going in. He also blocked two shots and picked up one hit in the opening 20 minutes. Bertuzzi scored a second goal on the power play in the third period to push the lead back to two; this goal was just five seconds into the advantage.
#Blackhawks take a 2-1 lead
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025
🚨 Tyler Bertuzzi
🍎 Seth Jones, Teuvo Teravainen
pic.twitter.com/tdeBbsQ2vg
It’s now 5-3 #Blackhawks
🚨 Tyler Bertuzzi (again!)
🍎 Teuvo Teravainen, Seth Jones
2nd goal for Bertuzzi tonight
3rd point for Jones tonight
pic.twitter.com/MMAecCrh5g— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025
Star 3: Seth Jones
Jones had a couple rough shifts early in the first period but was then clearly more physically engaged. He was on the ice for Hertl’s first goal but wasn’t at fault; he was on the ice for Hertl’s power play goal but that was a nasty redirect. Thru 40 minutes he had skated 15:47 and was credited with three shots on net, three hits, two takeaways and had two points (one goal, one assist). Jones added a third point in the game with an assist on Bertuzzi’s power play goal in the third.
#Blackhawks grab a 4-3 lead
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025
🚨 Seth Jones
🍎 Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar
pic.twitter.com/PdbZhcet2O
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Hall‘s name has been swirling in trade rumors this week. He admitted he doubts he finishes the season in Chicago earlier this week. But he’s still going to the net and finding the puck. His ninth of the season was huge in the final 20 seconds of the first.
It’s 3-1 #Blackhawks!!
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025
🚨 Taylor Hall
🍎 Patrick Maroon, Ryan Donato
pic.twitter.com/7iiByQxUKx
- As is usually the case, Jason Dickinson didn’t make any waves if you weren’t paying close attention in the first period. He skated 4:42 total, won 3 of 5 faceoffs, was credited with one shot attempt and one hit… and his line dominated the puck against the Golden Knights’ top line. (numbers at 5-on-5 in the first period from Natural Stat Trick)
- Ryan Donato‘s assist on Hall’s goal in the first period was the 100th of his NHL career.
- At the end of the second period, the Blackhawks had won 22 of 39 faceoffs (56 percent) as a team. Dickinson had won 7 of 12, Donato won 5 of 7 and Reichel won 3 of 6.
- Frank Nazar was really good on the penalty kill tonight. He continues to impress with his overall game. He picked up an assist on the Jones goal.
- Connor Bedard had the primary assist on the Jones goal, giving him points in 12 of his last 13 games.
- Donato got lit up by Zach Whitecloud late in the third period. Pat Maroon asked all five guys on the ice if they wanted to dance. Maroon got the showers. The Blackhawks killed a big penalty.
- Here’s the Maroon vs Nic Hague fight from the second period:
Pat Maroon and Nic Hague scrap for a full minute 🥊 pic.twitter.com/oa3YIMuZsO
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 19, 2025