Blackhawks’ rally falls short in season-opening 5-2 loss in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club got off to a great start in its new hometown Tuesday night.
The Blackhawks’ start, meanwhile, was less than ideal.
Utah never trailed in a season opener, building a 3-0 lead before holding off a Chicago rally for a 5-2 victory. It was the first game in Salt Lake City for the franchise formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes after relocating to Utah following last season.
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Utah never trailed Tuesday after getting first-period goals from Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller, then Barrett Hayton’s tip-in made it 3-0 in the second period.
The Blackhawks rallied, however, with new addition Teuvo Teravainen and team captain Nick Foligno each scoring to pull Chicago within 3-2 with more than 15 minutes left in the third. Foligno’s goal came when he tipped in a point shot by defenseman and Wilmette native Alex Vlasic, and the Blackhawks had plenty of time to get the equalizer.
But they couldn’t find the net again, despite several more quality third-period chances. Guenther scored an empty-netter and Lawson Crouse added a goal with 22 seconds left for the final margin.
Connor Bedard had two assists for the Blackhawks, making him the second player in team history to record a point in two season-opening games as a teenager. He also finished the game with four shots on goal.
Connor Ingram made 25 saves in net for Utah, and Petr Mrazek had 20 for Chicago.
Takeaways
Blackhawks: Chicago turned up the heat offensively in the second period after a listless first period, generating 11 shots on goal. The Blackhawks couldn’t capitalize on enough of those chances.
Utah HC: Utah fared well on power-play defense, denying the Blackhawks with three penalty kills.
Key moment
Hayton flicked the puck over Mrazek’s shoulder near the middle of the second period. It gave Utah just enough of a cushion until Guenther sealed a win with an empty-net goal with 41.9 seconds left.
Key stat
Keller has eight career points (four goals, four assists) in season-opening games. He’s the only Utah player with a 30-goal season under his belt, reaching that mark in each of his final two seasons in Arizona.
Up Next
Utah starts a four-game road swing at the New York Islanders on Thursday.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, continue their season-opening four-game road trip at Winnipeg on Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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