In general, hockey’s unpredictable nature makes it difficult to draw lessons or forecasts from just one game. The NHL regular season consists of 82 games over seven months, involving nearly 1,000 players seeing action throughout. Even top teams can suffer heavy defeats, while struggling teams can achieve surprising victories. All-Stars may go through pointless slumps, and a player recently promoted from a minor league can unexpectedly score a hat-trick. It’s a bit of a facade.
However, sometimes a single 60-minute game can truly reflect a team’s character, which is exactly what happened on Oct. 8 during the Chicago Blackhawks’ season opener against the Utah Hockey Club, a new franchise that hasn’t yet claimed a team name. In front of a sold-out crowd at the Delta Center, Utah HC claimed a 5-2 victory in their inaugural game since relocating from Arizona. This result delighted the home fans while marking another disappointing start for the Blackhawks.
The issues that plagued the Blackhawks last season—slow beginnings, ineffective power plays, too many defensive lapses, insufficient scoring opportunities, and poor finishing—were evident in the opening match. Although they made a commendable effort to close the gap to 3-2 and nearly tied the game, Chicago ultimately lacked the stamina to secure a win, beginning the 2024-25 season with a loss.
Let’s delve into some of these frustrations.
Poor Start for the Blackhawks
Last season, the Blackhawks lost 59 games (53 in regulation and six in overtime or shootouts), with many losses incurred early in games, especially within the first few minutes. Frequent early goals against them—often due to player mistakes or weak shots slipping past their goaltender—would leave fans disheartened before they even had a chance to settle in. Such starts can be disheartening for a team, forcing them to play catch-up rather than taking control.
Despite the new season, new players, and facing an unfamiliar opponent, the Blackhawks experienced yet another sluggish start. Utah HC’s Dylan Guenther scored the franchise’s inaugural goal following a weak shot from the slot that slipped past netminder Petr Mrazek, giving Utah a 1-0 advantage just five minutes into the game.
