The Blackhawks began a stretch of eight games at home in their next nine with a 5-4 loss to the Golden Knights on Friday night.
The Hawks are coming off a season-long six-game road trip that ended on a positive note, with the team taking five of a possible six points during the last three games after losing the first three. Still, the Hawks found themselves in last place in the Central Division, and tied with the Flames at four points out of the second wild-card spot coming into the day.
“It’s been a long time since we played here at home … so it’s nice to be back at the United Center,” Patrick Kane said.
Rookie goalie Jeff Glass, 32, started his fourth straight game, and first at the United Center, also the Knights’ first game there.
He’s been in net for all but one game since Corey Crawford was placed on injured reserve Dec. 27 with an upper-body injury.
And he was tested early, as Kane anticipated, because the Golden Knights peppered him with 19 shots on goal during the first period and 41 in all.
The 11th trickled between Glass’ legs 4 minutes, 44 seconds into the period and the goal was credited to Alex Tuch, further putting the Hawks on the spot considering the visitors were 17-1-0 when scoring first.
Reilly Smith made sure that mark moved to 18-1-0 when he shot the game-winner past Glass 13 minutes, 53 seconds into the third.
The Golden Knights’ lead swelled to two when Jonathan Marchessault beat Glass with just over four minutes left in the first.
Vinnie Hinostroza cut the deficit to one with 1:59 left, his second goal in two games. Patrick Sharp did the same in the second period, also his second goal in two games. Richard Panik, a healthy scratch Wednesday against the Rangers, had the primary assist, his first point in 12 games.
In between, Vegas’ leading scorer, William Karlsson, pushed a rebound past Glass.
Hinostroza found Schmaltz with 52.7 seconds left in the second, though, to tied it 3-all.
Jonathan Toews gave the Hawks a 4-3 lead 30 seconds into the third, but Cody Eakin tied it five minutes later.
The Golden Knights (28-10-2) improved to 11-8-1 on the road and are 17-2-1 at home.
“Their expectations were so low,” Kane said. “You hear about different things throughout the season, whether they’re going to trade different guys or they’re trying to rebuild, or I guess build in the first place, and all of a sudden they have one of the best teams in the league.
“They play really well at home. I don’t think that’s surprising. At the same time they’ve sustained it on the road. It will be a good test for us tonight.”
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