The Chicago Blackhawks took a tough loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. The 3-1 final didn’t indicate how much LA dominated Chicago at United Center.
The score was closer than it should have been because of Spencer Knight’s play. He made 31 saves on 33 shots against a playoff-bound Kings team loaded with talent. Without Knight playing lights out, this game would have been ugly.
Both goals that Knight gave up came within a minute of each other in the first period. One was a perfectly placed wrist shot by Trevor Moore and the other was a deflection by Alex Turcotte. Outside of those, he was perfect and you can’t ask for much more.
The most notable fact about Knight’s game against the Kings is that he started it. The loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday was hardly his fault, but he did allow six goals. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen went right back to him, and it paid off.
This isn’t the first time that Knight has gone back-to-back, either. Last week, he made two consecutive starts for the first time in his Blackhawks career. This is contrary to Sorensen’s statement that he would rotate with Arvid Soderblom when Knight was first acquired.
It seems like Knight is the number one goalie in Chicago moving forward. Being a first-round pick, Stanley Cup champion, and main piece in the Seth Jones trade, Knight has the pedigree needed to be the main guy.
The Blackhawks have a back-to-back this upcoming weekend. Saturday is a road tilt against the St. Louis Blues, and Sunday is a home match against the Philadelphia Flyers. Soderblom will go against the Blues and Knight will get the Flyers.
“Good. Today he gave us a chance to stay in the game in the first period.” Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said of Knight and how he’s been playing. “Really good down low, reads the play, handles the puck well. There is lots to like.”
Although Sorensen is likely not going to be the head coach next year, he is giving a hand in developing him right now. Sorensen has confidence in Knight as he continues to start him despite what he said when the deal to get him was first made.
The organization is showing Spencer Knight that he is their guy and that they are going to ride with him through thick and thin. A champion can be built with that mentality if the right players are involved.
If Knight can truly be a high-end number-one goalie for a long time, the Blackhawks have an incredibly important piece locked down.
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