Eichel hits 700 points as Golden Knights beat Blackhawks in Ryan Craig’s first game behind the bench

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists to reach 701 career points, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in their season opener Tuesday night.

Victor Olofsson notched Vegas’ first goal of the season, rookie Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut and Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone added goals as Ryan Craig earned his first victory as the Golden Knights’ head coach. Carter Hart made 24 saves.

Jordan Greenway and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, and Spencer Knight stopped 32 shots.

Kane marked his return to the franchise he helped lead to three Stanley Cup championships with a third-period goal, but Chicago couldn’t complete the comeback.

Craig took over after six seasons as a Vegas assistant and three coaching its AHL affiliate in Henderson. He inherited a veteran team that reached last season’s Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas got scoring from five players after trading Pavel Dorofeyev, its leading goal scorer last season with 37, including 20 on the man advantage.

Olofsson opened the scoring midway through the first period when his power-play wrist shot found the top shelf from the far side.

Connelly doubled the lead when he flipped a rebound over Knight’s pads.

Greenway scored late in the second when his shot from the right circle flew past Hart, cutting Vegas’ lead to 2-1.

Kane trimmed the deficit to one early in the third with a slick backhand, but Hanifin answered shortly thereafter to restore the two-goal cushion.

Stone’s empty-netter provided the final margin.

Chicago opened without Connor Bedard, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and isn’t expected back until late October at the earliest.

Blackhawks: Visit Utah on Thursday night.

Golden Knights: Host Anaheim on Friday night.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) knocks the puck out of the air against Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Chicago Blackhawks center Anton Frondell (16) skates against Vegas Golden Knights center Marc Gatcomb (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Chicago Blackhawks' Jordan Greenway (12) falls into Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Trevor Connelly (24) scores between Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) and goaltender Spencer Knight (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Trevor Connelly, left, celebrates with left wing Victor Olofsson (95) after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Paul Cotter scored 1:59 into overtime to cap a two-goal game as the Vancouver Canucks got the season off to a strong start with a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson and Elias Pettersson also scored for the Canucks, who are coming off a last-place finish in the NHL last season with a 25-49-8 record.

Kevin Lankinen made 32 stops.

Evan Bouchard had three goals and two assists and Vasily Podkolzin scored twice for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry made 17 saves for Edmonton.

Entering the third period tied 2-2, Pettersson capped a three-goal run by the Canucks 5:15 into the frame to swiftly put the Canucks ahead 5-2.

But Podkolzin scored at 8:56, followed by Bouchard’s third of the night 24 seconds later and Podkolzin’s second of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation to send it to extra time.

Cotter, who joined Vancouver as a free agent after spending the last two seasons in New Jersey, became the first player in Canucks history to score a short-handed goal in his debut with the team.

Bouchard is the first defenseman in Oilers history to record a multigoal game in a season opener and just the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick in an opener. He is also just the third blue-liner in the last 30 years to have at least four points in a game to open the season.

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra became the fourth person to represent the Canucks as both a player and head coach in his career, following in the footsteps of Marc Crawford, Pat Quinn and Orland Kurtenbach.

Canucks: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Oilers: At the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2) celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) looks for the rebound from Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) during overtime NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Max Sasson (63) is pursued by Edmonton Oilers' Colton Dach (34) during third period NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor Murphy (5) defends against Vancouver Canucks' Marco Rossi (23) during third period NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Tom Willander (5) and Paul Cotter (47) celebrate Cotter's game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)