The Blackhawks' recovery fails in the first NHL game in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — For the second straight season, the Blackhawks attempted a valiant comeback after trailing by several goals in their season opener.

Unlike last season in Pittsburgh, however, they felt like they weren't satisfied in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Utah, allowing a raucous crowd celebrating the recently relocated franchise's opening game to go home happy.

Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno scored for the Hawks, who trailed 3-0 midway through the second period, and Tyler Bertuzzi hit the post with about 65 seconds left on a shot that could have tied the game at 3-3. Utah added two late goals to increase the final score.

This story will be updated.

New home

Hours before the puck dropped, hundreds of Utah employees scurried through the Delta Center, where the NBA's Jazz have played since 1991, to prepare it for its new tenant. Jerseys were still being laid out in the team store, artwork was still being installed in the concourses, and hallway access policies were still being established on the fly.

However, everything came together just in time. Fans filled not only the 11,131 seats with an unobstructed view, but also thousands more at the ends of the upper level who could only see the goal on the other side – an unfortunate mistake in arenas designed specifically for basketball.

Hawks defenseman Connor Murphy, who spent the first three years of his career as a Coyote, said he's glad the players who endured such a tumultuous ride in Arizona can now settle into a more stable home in Utah. Two of his teammates from the 2016-17 Coyotes — Lawson Crouse and Clayton Keller — remain part of the franchise, as do a handful of staff members.

“They've been through a lot for many years, changing rinks in Arizona, then changing ownership and now moving here,” Murphy said. “It sounds like the facility is really good and the owners care about it. That’s nice to hear because they all deserve good treatment after being sent everywhere.”

While Murphy spent the morning reflecting on the changes his old franchise has undergone, he and other Hawks also reviewed some of the details and nuances specific to this rink.

They found that the air temperature in Delta Center is warmer than most. This meant they sweated more and therefore needed to drink more fluids.

Additionally, the lights are brighter than most – as they are designed to illuminate a basketball court, which is not as reflective as an ice rink. Because the boards are brand new, they are bouncier than most. And the steepness of the stands, including the raised vertical sections behind both goals, changes the perception of the players on the ice.

“Rinks where the stands run steeply along the glass seem a little narrower and smaller, which I like,” Murphy said. “Those in which the lower shells are wide and have a gradual slope feel larger and more echogenic. It’s nice to feel like everything is right there on the ice.”

Allan's debut

Nolan Allan made his NHL debut on Tuesday in the third duo alongside Connor Murphy, rewarding him for his strong performance in training camp and sending a message to other prospects that they, too, can change perceived organizational depth with strong play.

“I just came to camp and tried to be the best version of myself,” Allan said. “I knew there was a good chance I would probably return to Rockford, but I didn’t take it because that was the final solution.”

If Allan becomes a useful player for the Hawks, it would add a new dimension to retrospective analyzes of the controversial Seth Jones transfer in 2021.

As part of this deal, the Hawks sent the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft to the Blue Jackets and in return received the 32nd pick, selecting Allan. With the 12th pick, the Jackets used forward Cole Sillinger, who has already played three full NHL seasons but has not yet exceeded the 32-point mark.