The Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center on Monday, Mar. 3. The Blackhawks were coming off a 6-3 win versus the Anaheim Ducks (Mar. 1), while the Kings were trying to redeem a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues (also on Mar. 1). It was these two teams’ second matchup of the season; the first of which the Blackhawks won 4-3 in a shootout on Nov. 2.
It turns out the Blackhawks came out on top this time as well, with a commanding 5-1 win. Here are the highlights.
Knight Survives First Period Flurry
The big news out of Chicago in this game was the Blackhawks’ debut of netminder Spencer Knight, whom they acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade. Knight was tested early and often, as the Kings got off to a fast and furious start. They registered nine shots on goal before the Blackhawks got their first.
Related – Blackhawks Raise Goaltending Bar With Spencer Knight Addition
But Chicago got on the scoreboard first with a long shot from defenseman Alec Martinez.
#BLACKHAWKS STRIKE FIRST🚨 pic.twitter.com/kxxfKsUZIf
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) March 4, 2025
The Kings answered back less than one minute later when captain Anze Kopitar got in front of the Blackhawks’ defense and went in all alone to beat Knight.
GKG (Go Kopi Go) pic.twitter.com/gKlFLT2Zkj
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 4, 2025
The first period ended with both teams knotted at one goal a piece. The Kings registered 17 shots on goal to the Blackhawks’ seven, despite Chicago receiving two power plays in that frame. The Kings’ Warren Foegele contributed five shots on goal!
Blackhawks With a Big Second Frame
The Blackhawks were the ones that got off to the fast start in the second when they scored a goal less than a minute in. Ilya Mikheyev buried a shot after Kings’ netminder Darcy Kuemper beat shots by both Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen.
LET’S GO ILYA ‼️ pic.twitter.com/srr3ZIRXE4
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 4, 2025
The Hawks were up 6-1 in shots before the Kings received a power play at the 6:29 mark of the second. But they couldn’t capitalize, and Chicago extended their lead to 3-1 when defenseman Ethan Del Mastro‘s shot went in off a defender’s skate.
Ethan Del Mastro scores his 2nd goal in 3 games after his shot from a weird angle went off a skate and in. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/zKr4hY5IZm
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 4, 2025
It was definitely Chicago’s period, setting the pace and scoring two goals to the Kings’ zero. But the Kings were doing their best to stay in the game, throwing nine shots on net to the Blackhawks same amount of shots in that frame.
Third Period Push Not Enough for the Kings
The Blackhawks were looking to keep the momentum going, and they did just that when Andreas Athanasiou tallied a goal early in the third period to make it 4-1.
ATHANASIOU IN FRONT OF THE NET 😤 pic.twitter.com/rnlO1HEXro
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) March 4, 2025
Donato added an empty net goal to seal the deal late in the game. He almost scored a goal earlier in the period, but it bounced off both posts before it went wide.
The Kings registered 16 shots to the Blackhawks’ 3 in the third period, and the final shot total was 42-19 in their favor. But the Blackhawks still walked away with a 5-1 win.
Related – Los Angeles Kings’ Needs at the 2025 Trade Deadline
Knight Steals the Night
There’s no doubt about it; this night was all about netminder Knight in his Blackhawks’ debut. The 23-year-old Connecticut native stopped 41-of-42 shots for a .976 save percentage in the win. It’s safe to say the Blackhawks may have found their goaltender of the future.
The Blackhawks will continue their homestand this Wednesday, hosting the Ottawa Senators and Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. The Kings head home to take on the Blues on both Mar. 5 and Mar. 8.
Related – 1 Positive From Every Blackhawks Game in February
The Blackhawks and the Kings will meet again on Mar. 20 for the final contest of their season series.
