Three takeaways
Challenge accepted.
The Golden Knights successfully challenged a goal by Chicago’s Dominik Kahun with 14:16 remaining in the first period that would have tied the score at 1. Officials ruled the Blackhawks were offside. It was the first time the Knights have won a challenge this season after starting 0-3.
First points. Deryk Engelland notched three assists — he was originally credited with a goal in the second period that went to Ryan Reaves — and
Nate Schmidt added an assist. The points were Engelland’s and Schmidt’s first this season, leaving Oscar Lindberg and Paul Stastny (injured) as the only players without a point.
Finding warts. Not everything was rosy for the Knights, despite the lopsided final score. The defense tandem of Nick Holden and Colin Miller struggled throughout, and the first line of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and
Reilly Smith was quiet during 5-on-5 and finished a combined minus-8.
David Schoen those periods killed us,” goaltender Marc-andre Fleury said. “They had some chances and it was back and forth. We talked between periods that wasn’t the way we wanted to play with this team because they’re so skilled. I think from the second and third, we had the puck a lot and dominated the game.”
Chicago got as close as 4-2 midway through the second period, but Reaves scored two minutes later, and Theodore converted with 5.8 seconds left in the second to put the game out of reach.
“It’s good for our team to get some confidence, especially the goals going in tonight,” Gallant said. “We’ve just got to keep going and worry about the next game (at Vancouver on Thursday). Tonight was a big win for us.”