For the first time in five tries this season, the Chicago Blackhawks finally won the back end of a back-to-back on Sunday at the United Center. Tyler Bertuzzi recorded his fifth career NHL hat trick to help Chicago erase a 2-1 deficit in the third period and beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime.
Not only was it the Blackhawks’ first win when playing a second game in as many nights, but it was the first time they’ve even been competitive in the back half of a quick two-game set. In the first four back-to-backs of the season, the Blackhawks were outscored by an embarrassing margin of 27-7. Those four matches included lopsided losses of 9-3 to the Buffalo Sabres, 7-1 to the Anaheim Ducks, and 7-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But in Sunday’s win, the Blackhawks had one of their best defensive performances to get the monkey off their backs and move to 3-0-0 since the calendar flipped to 2026. The Golden Knights tallied just 15 shots on goal in 61:18 of action, including two combined in the third period and overtime. It’s the first time the Blackhawks have held their opponent to fewer than 20 shots in a game this season.
Don’t look now, but the Blackhawks are back within two points of a wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference thanks to the current four-game point streak. Despite still being down both Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, the team’s top two playmakers, Chicago is starting to figure out how to scratch out close-contested wins.
All three of their victories in 2026 have been by one goal, and it’s been the veteran leaders stepping up in Bedard and Nazar’s absences to get across the finish line late in games. On Thursday against Dallas, it was Ilya Mikheyev who came up clutch offensively with two goals. In Saturday’s win over Washington, captain Nick Foligno scored his first career shootout goal for the game-winner. And against the Golden Knights, Bertuzzi led the comeback effort and tallied all three goals on Sunday.
Bertuzzi’s stellar 2025-26 campaign continued versus Vegas, as he’s now up to 22 goals in 39 games, which is quietly tied for 10th in the league. He’s well on pace to hit the 30-goal plateau for the second time as an NHLer, and he could even make a charge for 40.
The 30-year-old forward tied the game twice for the Blackhawks in regulation, scoring first at 12:48 in the first period to even the score 1-1. Then, with just over eight minutes to play in the third period, Bertuzzi scored again to tie the game 2-2 and force overtime. In the extra stanza, he completed the hat trick at 1:18 to put a stamp on the comeback. It’s Bertuzzi’s second hat trick of the year, with the first coming back on Nov. 5 in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Here are the highlights from the Blackhawks’ come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Golden Knights, moving their record to 17-18-7 through 42 games.
FIRST PERIOD
The Blackhawks were a little slow in the early going on Sunday, and the Knights took advantage to jump ahead 1-0. It was former Blackhawk Brandon Saad who kicked off the scoring with 9:20 left in the period, getting to a loose puck before Louis Crevier for his second goal of the season.
One of the few chances conjured up by Chicago in the stanza was Bertuzzi’s first of three goals on the evening. He played pitch and catch with Alex Vlasic on the left side of the offensive zone and then snapped a wrist shot past Akira Schmid to tie the game 1-1. Andre Burakovsky also extended his point streak to three games on the play.
Andre Burakovsky➡️Alex Vlasic➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨
Bertuzzi hits the 20-goal plateau to tie the game 1-1! Bert now has points in 5 of the past 6 games. Burakovsky now has points in three consecutive games. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/YFBxi4ZSZD
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) January 5, 2026
The game remained tied going into the first intermission, although the Golden Knights were the better team. The visitors led 8-4 in shots on goal and 7-3 in high-danger chances in the period.
SECOND PERIOD
Less than one minute into the second period, Vegas regained the lead with a quick play in transition. After Jack Eichel fought through a check to generate an odd-man rush, his centering feed banked off Crevier and bounced right to Mark Stone. 2-1, Golden Knights. Stone extended his goal streak to four games.
A scary incident occurred in the moments following Stone’s goal. Jason Dickinson had a wide-open scoring chance in the slot, but he fired an errant shot wide of the target. Unfortunately, he hit his teammate, Mikheyev, directly in the midsection while skating behind the far post. Mikheyev dropped to the ice in pain and was helped off to the dressing room.
Mikheyed missed a few shifts but eventually returned to the game, which was tremendous to see. The Blackhawks cannot afford to lose any more forwards at this point.
Neither side created many dangerous scoring opportunities in the period, and the score remained 2-1 going into the second intermission. Vegas held a slight 13-12 edge in shots on goal and led 11-4 in scoring chances through 40 minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
With the game on the line in the final period, the Blackhawks impressively flipped a switch and played their best hockey when it mattered the most. Rookie Ryan Greene had a point-blank opportunity to tie the game just over five minutes in, but Schmid made a miraculous right-pad stop.
After continuously knocking on the door and spending tons of time in the Golden Knights’ end, Bertuzzi netted his second goal of the game and 21st of the season to tie the score. Greene did a great job of sticking with the play and eventually sliding the puck over to Bertuzzi for the stuff shot. 2-2.
Andre Burakovsky➡️Ryan Greene➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨
Bertuzzi gets his 2nd goal of the game & 21st of the season to tie the game 2-2! Burakovsky gets his 2nd assist of the night. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/s0OoJiF2uV
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) January 5, 2026
Vegas was on their heels for the majority of the period, but somehow found a way to get the game into overtime. The Blackhawks led 7-2 in shots on goal, 13-7 in scoring chances, and 7-2 in high-danger chances in the third. What an incredible effort to extend the point streak to four games.
OVERTIME
Just over one minute into overtime, Bertuzzi completed the hat trick and sent the fans in attendance at the United Center home very happy. Mikheyev patiently circled the Knight’s net and eventually found Bertuzzi all alone in the crease for the game-winning goal.
Three wins in a row for the Blackhawks to kick off the New Year.
Chicago returns to action next for a Central Division matchup with the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday at the United Center. It’s the first meeting between the two teams since Bedard got injured in St. Louis back on Dec. 12.
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