Brandon Saad couldn't have dreamed up a better return to the Chicago Blackhawks, who got a hat trick from the 24-year-old forward and opened their season with a 10-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at United Center on Thursday. Saad scored his third goal when he charged to the net on a 2-on-1 and had a pass from Jonathan Toews deflect off him into the net at 5:21 of the third period to make it 9-1.
"It's exciting, for sure, to get [a hat trick] and then to be in this building," said Saad, who was reacquired by the Blackhawks on June 23 in a trade that sent forward Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets. "It's an incredible building to play in, and to have that support and get a hat trick on the first night, it definitely feels good."
Patrick Sharp scored a goal in his first regular-season game with Chicago since returning July 1 as an unrestricted free agent after two seasons with the Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks were swept last season by the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference First Round, when they scored three goals.
"We had a lot to prove," Hartman said. "I can't really say we're angry still. It's a new season, but we wanted to come out ready and show that we're a contender."
The Blackhawks broke open the game with four goals in 2:55 in the first period. Hartman made it 1-0 at 6:21 of the first period, Saad scored his first goal 45 seconds later to make it 2-0, Schmaltz made it 3-0 at 7:34, and Saad scored again at 9:16 for a 4-0 lead.
Former Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi started for the Penguins, who lost 5-4 in overtime to the St. Louis Blues in their opener Wednesday after raising a banner for their second straight Stanley Cup championship. He allowed four goals on 13 shots and was pulled after Saad scored his second of the game. He was replaced by Matt Murray, who allowed six goals on 31 shots.
"It's embarrassing," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had an assist and a minus-4 rating. "It was 4-0 [just] 10 minutes into the game. I don't know what to say, to be honest with you. We made mistakes and they buried them. Sometimes you make those mistakes and you get away with them. They capitalized on every one."
Goal of the game
After racing up the right wing, Kane lifted a backhand to the short side that went over Murray's left shoulder, hit the crossbar and went in the net.
Malkin got a breakaway shortly after Kane's goal, but Crawford used his right pad to make the save at 4:14.
Kane carried the puck behind the Penguins net, drew a defender and sent a no-look, backhand pass to Hartman, who redirected it into the net. "I skated with [Kane] a lot this summer," Hartman said. "As soon as I saw him going around the net like that, I knew exactly where to go, because I know he likes making plays like that."
"Win or lose, you've got to evaluate your game and it hasn't been good enough. It's a tough lesson, but we've got to take something from it. Hopefully this is something that's a wake-up call for us." -- Penguins captain Sidney Crosby
"It was almost like it wasn't a real game or something. I mean, it was just amazing. It was a fun start to be part of. It's not like we were trying to run up the score or rub it in anyone's face. We were just out there playing hockey, and guys were excited to play again." -- Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane
Need to know
The Blackhawks are 7-0-0 against the Penguins since 2014-15, and Pittsburgh hasn't won at United Center since Feb. 27, 2009, a 5-4 overtime win. … Schmaltz and center Tanner Kero each left the game with an apparent injury, but Quenneville said they are fine. … Sharp's goal was his 600th NHL point (278 goals, 322 assists).
"We had a lot to prove," Hartman said. "I can't really say we're angry still. It's a new season, but we wanted to come out ready and show that we're a contender."
Former Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi started for the Penguins, who lost 5-4 in overtime to the St. Louis Blues in their opener Wednesday after raising a banner for their second straight Stanley Cup championship. He allowed four goals on 13 shots and was pulled after Saad scored his second of the game. He was replaced by Matt Murray, who allowed six goals on 31 shots.
"It's embarrassing," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had an assist and a minus-4 rating. "It was 4-0 [just] 10 minutes into the game. I don't know what to say, to be honest with you. We made mistakes and they buried them. Sometimes you make those mistakes and you get away with them. They capitalized on every one."
Goal of the game
After racing up the right wing, Kane lifted a backhand to the short side that went over Murray's left shoulder, hit the crossbar and went in the net.
Malkin got a breakaway shortly after Kane's goal, but Crawford used his right pad to make the save at 4:14.
"It was almost like it wasn't a real game or something. I mean, it was just amazing. It was a fun start to be part of. It's not like we were trying to run up the score or rub it in anyone's face. We were just out there playing hockey, and guys were excited to play again." -- Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane
Need to know
The Blackhawks are 7-0-0 against the Penguins since 2014-15, and Pittsburgh hasn't won at United Center since Feb. 27, 2009, a 5-4 overtime win. … Schmaltz and center Tanner Kero each left the game with an apparent injury, but Quenneville said they are fine. … Sharp's goal was his 600th NHL point (278 goals, 322 assists).
* Well, there's no hiding the fact that this was an ugly game by the Pens, and even that is an understatement. It was one of the most lopsided loss for Pittsburgh in the history of the franchise, and worst since a 9-0 defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay on Nov. 8, 2003.
The Pens will probably just want to burn the tape on this game and start fresh.
* The bottom fell out on the Pens in the first period when Chicago scored three goals in a 73-second span. Ryan Hartman, Brandon Saad and Nick Schmaltz posted the triad of tallies to give Chicago a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks kept the pressure on even after that and the goals kept coming. Chicago had a 5-0 lead at the end of the first period. They pushed that 8-1 after 40 minutes. But really, the game had ended at the 7:34 mark on that Blackhawks' third goal.
* Good to see Saad picking up the hat trick against his boyhood Pens team. It was a tough loss for Pittsburgh, but you have to feel good for the local kid.
* It was a tough night for the entire Pens squad, but most of all for the goaltenders. Antti Niemi made his Pens' debut, and it's one he'll likely hope to forget. Niemi, facing some of his former Stanley Cup-winning teammates, surrendered four goals on 13 shots. He was replaced halfway thorugh the first period.
Things weren't much better for Matt Murray, who entered the game in relief. Murray, who had played in Pittsburgh's opener the night before, gave up six goals against.
* If there is a one bright spot from this game it was the play of the team's penalty killers. Even though Chicago posted eight goals, a total of zero of them came on the power play. The Blackhawks' offense is obviously stacked, but somehow Pittsburgh's PK units kept it off the board.
* The bottom fell out on the Pens in the first period when Chicago scored three goals in a 73-second span. Ryan Hartman, Brandon Saad and Nick Schmaltz posted the triad of tallies to give Chicago a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks kept the pressure on even after that and the goals kept coming. Chicago had a 5-0 lead at the end of the first period. They pushed that 8-1 after 40 minutes. But really, the game had ended at the 7:34 mark on that Blackhawks' third goal.
* Good to see Saad picking up the hat trick against his boyhood Pens team. It was a tough loss for Pittsburgh, but you have to feel good for the local kid.
* It was a tough night for the entire Pens squad, but most of all for the goaltenders. Antti Niemi made his Pens' debut, and it's one he'll likely hope to forget. Niemi, facing some of his former Stanley Cup-winning teammates, surrendered four goals on 13 shots. He was replaced halfway thorugh the first period.
Things weren't much better for Matt Murray, who entered the game in relief. Murray, who had played in Pittsburgh's opener the night before, gave up six goals against.
* If there is a one bright spot from this game it was the play of the team's penalty killers. Even though Chicago posted eight goals, a total of zero of them came on the power play. The Blackhawks' offense is obviously stacked, but somehow Pittsburgh's PK units kept it off the board.
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