The Chicago Blackhawks began their four-game West Coast road trip in Sin City on Tuesday, taking on the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Blackhawks had lost five of their last six games, but were coming off a strong comeback against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at the United Center.
First period
It was a “blink and you’ll miss it” beginning to the game. The Golden Knights took the early lead after Ivan Barbashev banked a pass off Wyatt Kaiser 27 seconds into the game.
The lead did not last even a minute. After an effective neutral-zone transition, Frank Nazar found Oliver Moore, who buried a laser above Carter Hart’s right arm to tie the game less than two minutes into the contest.
early equalizer✅ pic.twitter.com/2U5MKr3LRg
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 3, 2025
The remainder of the period contained no goals. Despite this, the Blackhawks got on the power play twice, only managing one combined shot.
The Blackhawks noticeably took control of the game in the second half of the period, leaving Vegas without a shot in the last 7:45 of the period.
The period ended tied at 1-1, with both teams managing eight shots on goal.
Second period
A far more frantic period than the first, both teams netted a goal this period.
The first goal of the period went Chicago’s way. Taking advantage of Hart’s misplay of the puck, Tyler Bertuzzi made an aggressive play to take a 2–1 lead.
ope just gonna sneak past ya there pic.twitter.com/ckFaolbPRn
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 3, 2025
Following Bertuzzi’s goal, Vegas challenged for offside. That challenge failed, leading Chicago to the power play. That power play was quickly ended by a hooking call on Nazar. Both penalties were eventually killed.
Near the end of the period, Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton took a shot that bounced off Chicago defenseman Matt Grzelyck, tying the game and giving Vegas their second goal off of a Blackhawks defenseman.
The period ended at a 2-2 tie, with shots of goal tied at 17.
Third period
The third period gave Connor Bedard one of his best goals of the season. After a breakout pass from Andre Burakovsky, Bedard danced around a Vegas defender and sniped a shot over Hart’s right shoulder to take a 3-2 lead.
ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh my goodness🫨 pic.twitter.com/jwIzJUJtF1
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 3, 2025
As the game picked up near the end, the Golden Knights refused to go out quietly. On a strong rush to the net, Vegas rookie Braeden Bowman followed his own shot up to tie the game at 3-3, which would hold for the remainder of regulation.
Overtime
It was a classic overtime with chances back and forth. The highlights came from both teams’ goaltenders, especially Hart, who saved six shots in the overtime.
After five minutes of overtime, neither team scored. A shootout would decide the game.
Shootout
The Blackhawks shot first in the shootout, with Teuvo Teravainen being stood up by Hart.
Vegas’s first shooter, Pavel Dorofeyev, succeeded on his attempt on a deceiving backhand on Spencer Knight.
Bedard followed Dorofeyev’s attempt with a beautiful shootout goal, outlasting Hart’s patience.
The next four shooters failed to convert, leaving Shea Theodore the chance to walk it off for Vegas. Like Dorofeyev, he placed a backhand shot passed Knight to end the game. Final score, 4-3 Vegas.
Final thoughts
It was an unfortunate game of unfortunate bounces. Vegas’s first two goals deflected off Blackhawks defensemen. A game where Chicago seemed to control play got away from them at the end.
Notably, the Blackhawks went 0 for 5 on the power play. Chicago never looked comfortable on the power play, with Vegas hounding the puck holder and breaking up neutral-zone entries.
Chicago will look to get back in the win column on Thursday when they take on the Los Angeles Kings at 9 p.m. CST.