Golden Knights Beat Blackhawks – Theodore Gets OT Winner

CHICAGO — Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore scored 1:19 into overtime when Chicago’s Carl Dahlstrom slid the puck into his own net, lifting the Golden Knights to a 4-3 victory over the Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Theodore was driving when Dahlstrom knocked it away and through the legs of goaltender Collin Delia. It was Theodore’s first goal since he scored twice in an 8-3 victory at Chicago on Nov. 27.

Alex Tuch, Ryan Carpenter and Paul Stastny also scored for Vegas, which won for the eighth time in nine games. Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Tuch extended his points streak to a franchise-record nine games in the Golden Knights’ second season.

Alex DeBrincat scored twice for Chicago, which lost for the fifth time in six games. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, and Delia made 29 stops.

Each team had a goal waved off. Vegas successfully challenged for offside in the first, and Golden Knights forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare had one taken away in the third for kicking the puck into the net.

The Golden Knights trailed 3-2 before Stastny knocked home a rebound with 4:04 left in regulation. Max Pacioretty sent one off the right post before Stastny got his sixth of the season.

Looking to salvage the finale of a three-game homestand, Chicago got off to a fast start behind DeBrincat and Kane.

DeBrincat skated across the middle, got a feed from Dominik Kahun and slid a backhand past Fleury 4:36 into the first. It was DeBrincat’s 11th goal in his last 16 games and No. 50 for his career in just his second NHL season.

Kane then made it 2-0 with a power-play goal with 4:40 left in the period. The All-Star forward has 12 goals and 18 assists in his last 19 games.

After Tuch got his 15th of the season on a rebound 1:34 into the second, Kane and DeBrincat combined for Chicago’s second power-play goal of the night. With Jon Merrill serving the second part of a double-minor for high-sticking, DeBrincat skated into the left circle and drove Kane’s pass by Fleury at 7:22.

Chicago had a 3-1 lead in the final minute of the period when Carpenter deftly used Dahlstrom as a screen while sending a wicked wrist shot by Delia on the glove side. It was Carpenter’s fourth of the season.

NOTES: Tuch has three goals and seven assists during his point streak. … Vegas has won each of its six games against Chicago in its first two seasons. … Blackhawks D Slater Koekkoek skated with his new team on Saturday morning, but was scratched against the Golden Knights. Koekkoek was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on Friday. … Blackhawks F David Kampf celebrated his 24th birthday. … Blackhawks D Erik Gustafsson extended his point streak to eight games.

UP NEXT

Golden Knights: At Winnipeg on Tuesday night.

Blackhawks: At New Jersey on Monday night.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press