Spencer Knight shines in Blackhawks debut, defeating Kings 5-1

CHICAGO (AP) — Spencer Knight made an impressive debut with the Chicago Blackhawks, stopping 41 shots to lead his new team to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. The game marked Knight’s first after being acquired from the Florida Panthers over the weekend.

Defensemen Alec Martinez and Ethan Del Mastro each scored, along with Ilya Mikheyev, Andreas Athanasiou, and Ryan Donato, as the Blackhawks won their second consecutive game to open a three-game homestand.

Knight, 23, was traded on Saturday night in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. The Blackhawks also retained 26% of Jones’ salary, approximately $2.5 million annually, to facilitate the deal.

“I want to play, and our goal is to win here,” Knight said in a postgame interview. “I’ve always loved coming to play here as an away opponent. But playing here as a Blackhawk is 10 times better.”

The Kings, on the other hand, struggled offensively, managing only six goals during their four-game losing streak. Anze Kopitar scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, marking his 14th of the season.

Mikheyev put Chicago ahead 2-1 just 46 seconds into the second period, and Del Mastro found the net shortly after, as his shot deflected off Kings defenseman Jacob Moverare for his second career goal.

“That’s a team win right there,” Knight added. “That’s just not one person. It feels great to get this outcome in our first game.”

The Blackhawks closed out the game with an empty-net goal by Donato, which was his 22nd of the season and a career high. Knight emphasized the importance of consistently working towards a winning culture in Chicago.

“I’m just going to bring what I’ve always brought, and that’s a positive attitude and a good work ethic,” he said. “I want to bring lots of wins to this organization over however long I’m here.”

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and interim coach Anders Sorensen acknowledged the challenge of managing a crowded goaltender roster, with Knight joining Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom. Meanwhile, Brossoit remains sidelined due to injury.

Both teams will face off again on Wednesday night, with the Kings set to play the St. Louis Blues, while the Blackhawks meet the Ottawa Senators.