The Chicago Blackhawks won their home opener at United Center, 4–3 in overtime over the Detroit Red Wings, on Friday night in a wildly entertaining contest.
After their opening night tradition of walking the red carpet, the Blackhawks slept-walked through the first period where they found themselves down 2-0. The Wings received an even strength goal by former Blackhawk Pius Suter and, 67 seconds later, a power play tally from Dylan Larkin.
New Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou cut the Wings’ lead to 2–1 at the 5:41 mark of the second period when he was awarded and succeeded on a penalty shot for his first of the season.
Midway through the second, ex-Blackhawk Dominik Kubalik scored his first Red Wings goal to regain a two-goal lead for the visitors.
Trailing 3–1 entering the third, Alex Stalock replaced Petr Mrazek in the net, who appeared injured late in the second. Philipp Kurashev scored his first of the season nearly four minutes into the frame to cut the Hawks’ deficit to one.
The Hawks tied it at 3–3 on a shorthanded goal by Connor Murphy.
In the extra session, Max Domi forced a neutral zone turnover and then skated in and blew a wrister past Alex Nedeljkovic for his first as a Blackhawk at the 2:44 mark to secure the win.
The Blackhawks welcome the Seattle Kraken for a Sunday afternoon contest at 1 p.m. CDT.