Kirby Dach scored his first career NHL goal, but the Chicago Blackhawks couldn't make their lead hold up as they fell 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout.
Nick Holden tied the game late in the third period with a goal, and Jonathan Marchessault and Shea Theodore both scored in the shootout to give the Golden Knights the win and to prevent the Blackhawks from winning a game against Vegas for the first time in seven all-time contests.
Robin Lehner stopped 33 shots for the Blackhawks, but it wasn't enough as he was the tough luck losing netminder in an incredible battle with Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 31 shots.
Late in the first period, the Blackhawks were pressuring the Golden Knights and they were able to get on the board thanks to a bit of a lucky bounce. Defenseman Olli Maatta fired a shot in toward Fleury, and after it took a deflection in front it bounced off of Dach's knee and into the back of the net, giving the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead and the rookie his first career goal.
That lead held all the way until late in the third period when the Golden Knights finally broke through. On a sparkling pass across the ice, Mark Stone fired a pass to Holden, who smacked a one-timer that barely got through Lehner's pads to tie the game with just 93 seconds remaining in the contest.
The two teams played a scoreless overtime period, with the Blackhawks killing off a Jonathan Toews penalty, but the Golden Knights ultimately prevailed in the shootout. After Toews scored to give the Blackhawks the edge, Marchessault and Theodore both scored for the Knights to send the fans home unhappy.
The Blackhawks will wrap up their homestand on Thursday night when they welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to the United Center. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.
