Recap: The Golden Knights were hoping to snap their losing skid with a victory in Chicago. Vegas’ Brandon Saad opened up the scoring against his old team with his second goal of the season. Minutes later the Blackhawks evened the score. After the opening 20 minutes the game was tied 1-1.
The Golden Knights took an immediate lead :43 into the middle frame. Captain Mark Stone picked up his 12th goal of 2025-26, giving his team a 2-1 edge.
Chicago tied the game scoring the only goal of the final period to force overtime. The Blackhawks scored early on 3-on-3 to pick up the two points.
The Golden Knights record drops to 17-11-12 falling to the Blackhawks 3-2 in OT. Next up, Vegas will travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Tuesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Embarrassing game for the Golden Knights. They didn’t look dangerous most of the night and it got really bad in the 3rd period as they tried to hold the lead. Didn’t land a shot for the first half of the period, wasn’t particularly pretty in the defensive zone either. Eventually, they bent enough that they broke and then never possessed the puck in OT. Terrible loss considering it was a B2B for Chicago, it was Dad’s Trip, and the Hawks are without their only two good players… and their good goalie didn’t play. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.
- SinBin Podcast (taping tomorrow, published Tuesday)
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Colton Sissons
** Akira Schmid
* Mark Stone
Emmanuel
Let me fix that for you:
Bertuzzis 3
Knights 2
ID10T w/ a Ba1100n
Hat Trick Heartbreak in the Windy City
They strutted into Chi‑Town with their dads on the trip,
Thought they’d show off a win, thought they’d tighten their grip.
Two leads on the board, yeah they had it in the bag,
But the Blackhawks said “nah,” and slapped on that OT tag.
Third goal of the night, yeah the hats hit the ice,
VGK froze up like they needed advice.
Dads in the stands with that “not again” stare,
Watching Vegas blow leads like they love despair.
Ohhh they blew it in the Windy City,
OT hat trick—man, that’s gritty.
Up twice in the game, but they let it slide,
Chicago came roaring like a lakefront tide.
Dad’s trip special? More like dad’s trip pain,
VGK found a brand new way to drain.
Ohhh they blew it in the Windy City…
And the Hawks sent ’em home lookin’ real itty‑bitty.
Ohhh the Golden Knights keep spiralin’ low,
Set a team record for losing streaks in a row.
Stackin’ L after L like it’s part of the plan,
Droppin’ games so fast you’d think they meant to tank, man.
History made, but not the kind they’d choose—
Vegas keeps finding bold new ways to lose.
Ohhh they blew it in the Windy City…
And now they’re legends of the wrong kind of history.
vgk21
hang back system loses again.
2 effin shots on goal in the turd period.
gettin more pathetic game by game.
vgk21
Bertuzzi has more goals than Eichel and Marner combined……22 to 21
Emmanuel
This
Frank
Big, big issue. Someone needs to step up and score. And we need better goaltending (one saved goal each game would have us in a much better place points wise)…….
Larry
UNBELIEVABLE… UNREAL…UNACCEPTABLE…PUTRID…PATHETIC…NAUSEATING….LOWEST of the LOW POINTS….INEXPLICABLE….INEXCUSABLE!!
But on a positive note I gladly cashed my $100 ticket on Chicago +1 1/2 goals lol
Jose
I got nothing.
JANE E GUERRERO
I AM DONE WATCHING THIS PATHETIC PLAY FROM THE KNIGHTS
ITS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD OF FAILURES
IT’S JUST TOO GUT WRENCHING TO SEE THE KNIGHTS WITH ALL THEIR TALENT PLAYING SO POORLY ESPECIAL
LY IN THE 3RD PERIOD.
knights fan in minny
Alright see ya don’t come back
SMH
A, B, C U LATER! THANKS FOR BEING A FAIR WEATHER FAN, AND FOR YELLING AT US IN ALL CAPS! BYE BYE!!
Hdbiker7851
They are a pathic bunch and a sorry excuse for a hockey team. Chicago was on a back to back and had more energy than Vegas. Sad to post but unfortunately true they are a sorry ass bunch. No excuses except reality. Same sorry useless in OT and SOs period. End of story.
23
but Pollyanna says—-
they moved into first place in the kindergarten division, aka the Pacific.
but of course they also have 5 Pacific teams within 3 points of moving past them.
knights fan in minny
Hopeless Maybe next year they can have a mother’s trip just lost To two of the worst teams in hockey Next is another worst team good luck
Jake
Consistent
Predictable
I didn’t watch
They lost me for now
JB
Same old, same old ! Even Pete can’t put any lipstick on that pig!
Scott
I’ve typically been on the side that our OTLs have been worth it. Not tonight. This was an inexcusable, horrible loss to a very bad team. After the first period, VGK did not want this game. They look like they are waiting for the Olympics to come early. I have no idea why, but these guys are just bad.
ID10T w/ a Ba1100n
I’ll say it, Mitchey, Sissors, Sad, Penalty Boy, and Hanny are the problems. Money wasted. Roy, Hague, and Vic would’ve been better to keep and the rest of all that cash could’ve been spent on other acquisitions.
Leonard Wise
Pete should come in since this counts as a victory for him. The one point victory. Little did we know that this is a tournament to see who is playing the worst in hockey. We passed with flying colors against Nashville a lower mid team. So we made it easier for them mighty St Louis and again they passed with flying colors. Then the tournament went and made it easier Chicago without their two best players on a back to back and we passed again. Now the tournament championship in Winnipeg the loser get the trophy as the worst team in hockey. Also management is required to fire the coach and GM. 2, 26 million dollar players in total and no goals.
Leonard Wise
Pete should come in since this counts as a victory for him. The one point victory. Little did we know that this is a tournament to see who is playing the worst in hockey. We passed with flying colors against Nashville a lower mid team. So we made it easier for them mighty St Louis and again they passed with flying colors. Then the tournament went and made it easier Chicago without their two best players on a back to back and we passed again. Now the tournament championship in Winnipeg the loser get the trophy as the worst team in hockey. Also management is required to fire the coach and GM. 2, 26 million dollar players in total and no goals.
TS
CURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeezNutz
More limp dick offense. 15 shots is laughable. These players seem more focused on the Olympics and not being injured. Unfortunately they will continue to play like they care more about their Olympic teams than the team and fans that pay them. Will improve after February but not before.
Kelly needs to not make any moves at trade deadline this year. Let this team implode and try to build up some capital. We have 1 more season left with Stone and Karlsson and once they are off the books the front office can focus on another D-man and some goal scorers. In the meantime let these scrubs get belt 2 ass until they get tired of losing.
The only thing Kelly needs to focus on for this season and next is to re-work the bottom 6 at as low of cost as possible. Dump Sissons, Lauzon the kayaker, Fraad and Smith. Replace them with literally anybody you can find on waivers of free agency this summer. I’m fine with Kolesar being waived also.
NAM
But Kelly is the problem, he built this team. This isn’t a coaching problem, its a player personnel problem. Hanging your hopes that he fixes it may be pissing into the wind.
Larry
Besides the utter futility of regulation hockey, in overtime I still think Hertl should take the opening faceoff and either stay on or immediately go off, as Jack is simply not going to win the faceoff and give us possession ( we won’t do anything with that possession but that’s a whole different story).
I pin the whole overtime loss on Eichel, not because he lost the faceoff, but rather he stayed out on the ice rather than going for a change like Stone did, and was out there on tired legs and it showed as he was a major liability as the goal was scored.
Scott
I was thinking similarly for the opening faceoff in OT. Whoever has the hot hand should take the faceoff – Hertl, Sissons or Howden. Then get Jack back on the ice…
steve
Pretty harsh but definitely true about him being out there too long
Jose
What the fuck
Emmanuel
I thought you had nothing……LOL
Vic
Chicago toyed with the VGK in the third period and of course for the entire OT. No energy, no action, more of the same boredom and horrible play. The players are very close to having their coach fired.
Pistol Pete
Sad state of affairs when VGK sits atop the Pacific with a points pace of 94! Anyways how quickly a run by any of them hopefully us will move the points pace over 100.
I would say missing McNabb and Theo may have played a part in both these last two games late third period goals against. Korczak +1 this game and now sits well atop the D corp with +9 so at least that is plus for a guy on the last year of an ELC going up to $3.25m nice contract by McCrimmon.
Did the negative Nellies notice we outhit them 34 to 15.? PK still performing well. Yeah this slump is a downer I will say that in fact I am not even watching the games until we win one again hopefully in Winnipeg Tuesday. Cheer up folks a lot can change quickly. Try to remember how well it went scoring five ES goals against the Avs who btw were handed their third reg loss in Florida plus the CAR sweep by a healthy VGK (missing Hill actually). Anything can happen come the playoffs. Here’s to beating the Stars here on the 29th. Remember I said it! Onward and upward!
P. S. Hey Saad scored assisted by Howden and Holtz a first period lead! There is usually at least one bright spot.
TS
Pp, i sooo wish i posessed your eternal optimism!! Seems the team is bitten by that cursed Injury Bug every season, and more so than the other teams. This year especially so. What can be done, when key pieces are missing?? Cassidy must be having nightmares. The Henderson.boys cannot match or replace the missing talent. There is no answer to this mess!
.
NAM
Ahh the marquee game of the season for the knights against the AVS where we gave up two 2 goal leads and lost. It was a good game indeed.
Pistol Pete
Things can be conveniently overlooked to suit one’s narrative, in this case the little bit extra puck luck the Avs got.
I would say it takes a despondent VGK fan
bent on bashing the team’s string of losses to not admit how well they played minus Eichel and Theodore against a 100% healthy Avs team.
JB
Ok Pete, still talking about the AVs game? Wow! Haven’t you beaten the horse to death? Come on, that was some games ago, and since then we have played like crap. I’m certainly not giving up on making the playoffs, but we must look at this with common sense, yes?
steve
JB well said. We are half way thru the season, and sadly we are what we are to this point. and for the same poster to have such a rosy view is crazy to me. To talk about the Carolina games or even the Avalanche game is ludicrous, any team at this point even a ‘bad’ team can play well on a given night, im not saying we are a bad team but we are definitely not a good team now.
Pistol Pete
Talking about what is wrong never changes anything that is why I don’t bother. Besides if I thought if this team lacked the skill and talent to make the playoffs and maybe win a round or two I would come right out and say it! All we can hope is under the guidance of the coach the players play to their highest potential which right now is not happening not made any easier with the injuries at least Eichel is back a start. It has not been going well to put it mildly. Don’t keep reminding ourselves about it! I am okay trying to forecast line combos, players from Henderson, trade deadline moves. As fans are hands are tied. All we can do is talk ideas and hope.
Pistol Pete
P. S.
Reason for “harping” on CAR and Avs is obvious. When fans are attacking the team for rather horrendous results it bears repeating how well the exact team CAN play. Just a reminder is all. Guess the welcome mat for is no longer there. I get that!
Please no dude STFU from the peanut gallery lol! Thank you.
Scott
Pete – the one thing about the Hits stat is that the team who does not possess the puck is usually the team who gets more Hits. Cassidy has pointed this out many times. It is not necessarily an indicator of playing well. And last night, that was certainly evident. Incredibly disappointing!
Vic
PP…It’s not easy to follow along with you when you comment on games recently and respond to people who actually watched the games while you didn’t. Also, mentioning the dreaded four letter word ‘Saad’ in your comment above makes everyone question where your mind is at. Please keep posting as your overall passion and your charity to a team not playing well is welcomed. When they do turn it around, it will be great…but that could take a while.
Pistol Pete
I can appreciate that Vic but when I do watch games where the comments are no energy no drive to win no skill no shooting no goal scoring I always see the players playing their asses off but just not being able to execute well enough. It just never follows this team does not want to win. When you want to win you try hard but it may not be enough to win obviously what has been happening this stretch. Does anybody really think all the players don’t want the slump to end? They know they are letting the fans down. C’mon this is T-Mobile one of the best fanbases. I really think despite this current vast despondency this team has a shot at a decent January. I’m just not a pisser and moaner ane sound off about it from time to time. There will come a time
will this team bonafide sucks and that will be a sad state of affairs but I don’t see that window yet.
Pistol Pete
VGK is tied with BUF for 13th in P% with .575 a significant decline following the point from the Avs game where they were .625 perhaps still in the top five. Amazing that reg losses are still the fourth lowest! Again, those OT posts and crossbars converting a few of those OTL’s and today’s discussion is not the same. Look, three of last four games are reg losses and against low ranked
teams nonetheless, no argument there we need a turnaround. Reading through the tweets in the SinBin thread these whiner fans have one believing this is now the worst team in the league what a joke these sobbing babies are! Leaves practically minded optimist like me eager to gloat yes gloat when and if the fortunes change. This board will be hearing about it. If one thinks I have been a stuck record on CAR and the Avs game just wait. If it turns around the whiners and armchair coaches will be hearing from Pistol Pete!
Anybody remember 2023’s January? It was
a slump 4-6-2 worse than any single month this season, not a stretch like carrying forward from one month to the next but by each month.
2025:
Oct: 6-2-3
Nov: 5-4-5
Dec. 6-4-3
Jan: 0-1-1
January off to a not great start one point in two games. Knights in Winnipeg GKG!
Frank
This is a very talented team – but not very deep. That being said…. they are certainly underperforming against expectations. Can they go on a run? Yes – they are quite capable of it…… however, they need to start soon – or we may miss the playoffs entirely. And for gods sake, can we win a game in OT or shootout please??????
Pistol Pete
True Frank Saad and Smith are running on fumes career wise but not quite a done deal imo. Cassidy is no doubt hoping Smith works with Karlsson. I have noticed a recent uptick in Sissons and Kolesar.
Barbshev-Eichel-Stone
Dorofeyev-Hertl-Stone
Smith-Karlsson-Bowman
Howden-Sissons-Kolesar
Scratch: Saad, Holtz, Reinhart
Bowman could be a scratch in would go Saad or Holtz.
The above looks pretty deep and there is scoring potential in the bottom six especially with Karlsson back. Have not seen it enough these 40 games but hopefully there at some point.
NAM
Fuck yeah it looks deep, all you need to do is put Stone on two lines like that and we got it made. Might as well add him to the forth line too.
Richie-Rich
Game 40 Analysis Bertuzzi 3 VGK 2 OTL
Well, we are just 1 game away from the middle of the season and nothing has been learned.
But, it’s even worse than that. Another NHL Veteran #88 Megna was largely responsible for this loss. Sure, he’s a big frame but after last night we know exactly why he is on the AHL roster. He’s 33 years old and has spent 3 years with the Ducks, 2 with the Sharks, 1 year with the Kraken, 1 with the Blackhawks, and 1 with the Panthers (2024-2025). This is his 6th team and he has played a total of 195 NHL games, 4G, 23A and a -22 plus/minus. His only good year was 22-23 his 2nd year with the Sharks when he had 1G, 11A and was a +6 in 48 games.
I get it, Theodore and McNabb are out. Megna is not an NHL caliber defensemen, period. There has to be other options available. Totally out of position on one of Bertuzzi’s goals (Megna was caught up on the boards and left his position wide open. Easy goal for Tyler.
What’s there to cheer about? We can hang our hat on the loser point, and there is still the promise of this team reaching its promised potential when they get healthy. Right? Even the most faithful are beginning to question this team’s Cup credibility. Some of us are even wondering whether they can turn this around and make the playoffs at all.
Stone, Marner and Eichel. There’s your skill players. That’s it. Hanifan is overrated. Both Hanifan and Theodore are turnover risks. McNabb is really the only solid defenseman, and he’s out. The VGK are lucky to have been playing Chicago with this roster and its injuries.
So, Saad surprises with a magical moment! I’m still convinced that he’s a bust. I picked up Barbashev off of waivers in my fantasy league where I am in 1st place out of 10 teams with a 9-4 overall record. Not expecting much, but hope he gets hot. It’s a money league so I am rooting for Barby!
So, who has seen enough of the off season veteran acquisitions? Is it time to give some of the younger skilled Silver Knights a look or not?