Spencer Knight shines in Chicago debut

Spencer Knight delivered a stellar performance in his first game with the Blackhawks, making 41 saves to help Chicago secure a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.

Defensemen Alec Martinez and Ethan Del Mastro each found the net for Chicago, while Ilya Mikheyev, Andreas Athanasiou, and Ryan Donato also contributed goals. The Blackhawks (20-35-5) opened a three-game homestand with their second straight win.

Knight, acquired from Florida in the trade that sent defenseman Seth Jones to the Panthers on Saturday, stood firm in goal, holding the Kings to a single score. Anze Kopitar netted his 14th goal for Los Angeles, which suffered its fourth consecutive loss. Darcy Kuemper finished with 14 saves for the Kings.

Mikheyev put Chicago ahead 46 seconds into the second period with his 12th goal of the season. The Blackhawks extended their lead when Del Mastro’s shot deflected off Kings defenseman Jacob Moverare’s skate and into the net. The goal marked Del Mastro’s second in 13 career games.

Chicago sealed the win when Athanasiou made it 4-1 just 1:20 into the third period, scoring in only his second game since being recalled from the minors. Donato capped the night with an empty-net goal, his 22nd of the season, extending his career high.

Key Stats and Takeaways

• Chicago: Knight made 41 saves in his debut, while Donato reached a career-best 22 goals.
• Los Angeles: The Kings have lost four straight and managed just one goal on 42 shots.
• Defining Moment: Athanasiou’s early third-period goal put Chicago up 4-1, sealing the outcome.

Chicago continues its homestand against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, while Los Angeles looks to rebound against the Winnipeg Jets.