Logan Thompson turned away 27 shots for his second career shutout as the Vegas Golden Knights claimed a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night in Las Vegas.
Paul Cotter scored for Vegas, which improved to 2-0 to start a season for the fourth time in the franchise’s six seasons. The Golden Knights didn’t register their first shutout of the 2021-22 campaign until the 42nd game.
Alex Stalock finished with 36 saves for Chicago, which lost to defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado on Wednesday in Denver. The 35-year-old Stalock, who missed the entire 2021 season with myocarditis — an inflammation of a heart muscle — was playing in just his second NHL game since the 2019-20 season.
Both goaltenders were sharp during a scoreless first period that saw the Blackhawks finish with an 11-9 edge in shots on goal. Thompson turned away Andreas Athanasiou’s backhand shot on a partial breakaway with his left pad and also stopped Tyler Johnson’s point-blank shot.
Stalock came up with a big glove save on Reilly Smith’s wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle.
Vegas scored at the 8:44 mark of the second period, on Cotter’s third career goal. The score came at the end of a 2-on-1 rush with defenseman Zach Whitecloud. Cotter, playing in just his ninth NHL game, ripped a wrist shot from the right circle past Stalock’s glove side and inside the right post.
Chicago pulled Stalock for an extra attacker with 1:47 remaining, and the Golden Knights had a chance to seal it with 1:10 to go, but Jack Eichel’s shot from the right side went wide of the net. Thompson then turned away shots by Athanasiou and Jonathan Toews to close out the win.
–Field Level Media