CHICAGO — Ryan Donato showcased his remarkable talent on Friday night, scoring his first career hat trick in a thrilling matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite his impressive performance, the Chicago Blackhawks fell short, losing 5-3, marking their ninth defeat in ten games and dropping them to 21-43-9 for the season.
The United Center was buzzing as Donato opened the scoring with a breakaway goal in the first period, assisted by Ethan Del Mastro. After initially being denied by Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill, Donato capitalized on the rebound to put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0.
However, the Golden Knights responded quickly. Mark Stone tied the game with a wrist shot that sneaked between the legs of Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight. Just 53 seconds later, Victor Olofsson put Vegas ahead 2-1, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush.
But Donato was not done yet. In a dazzling display of skill, he scored two goals just 15 seconds apart in the second period. The first came during a delayed penalty call, when Joe Veleno found him at the bottom of the right circle, allowing Donato to beat Hill with a well-placed shot. On the very next shift, Ilya Mikheyev set up Donato for a one-timer that sent the home crowd of 19,121 into a frenzy.
“I didn’t even have time to really think about it, to be honest with you,” Donato said, reflecting on his hat trick. “Usually, you know, I’ve had two (goals) a couple of times, and you have time to sit after and think about, ‘Oh gosh.’ … This time, I really didn’t have time to think about it because we were right back out there.”
Despite Donato’s heroics, the third period proved to be the Blackhawks’ downfall. The Golden Knights scored three unanswered goals, with Pavel Dorofeyev netting the game-winner on a power play with just 3:10 left in the game. Brett Howden sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
“There were a lot of positives,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth when you come out of here with zero points.”
Donato’s hat trick was a highlight in an otherwise disappointing season for the Blackhawks. With nine games remaining, he has tallied 28 goals and 30 assists, easily surpassing his previous career highs of 16 goals and 18 assists. His performance has sparked interest in his future with the team, as he has been offered a three-year, $12 million contract extension but has yet to sign.
“It’s a privilege and an honor to get to that point, right?” Donato said. “I’ve had a lot of help from my teammates, coaches and a lot of people. But I want to help the team win.”
In addition to Donato’s stellar performance, the Blackhawks saw promising contributions from their younger players. Veleno, who has been gaining traction since joining the team, displayed his speed and playmaking ability, creating opportunities alongside Donato. The chemistry between Veleno and Tyler Bertuzzi, who were previously teammates on the Red Wings, has also been evident.
Meanwhile, rookie Connor Bedard returned to center after spending several games on the wing. Joined by Donato and Mikheyev, the trio had a productive night, outshooting the Golden Knights 8-3 during their time together on the ice.
“Hopefully, it will loosen him up and get him some more speed,” Sorensen said of Bedard’s return to center. “We’ve had a hard time as a group getting the puck up the ice.”
Defensively, the Blackhawks faced challenges against a potent Golden Knights offense. Spencer Knight, who has struggled recently, is now 1-3-0 in his career against the Golden Knights, and his performance was critical in the loss.
“You can look at a lot of stuff we created offensively against a really good defensive team — that’s a positive,” Sorensen noted. “But also the young blue line held it in against a really good rush team.”
As the Blackhawks look ahead, the upcoming games will be crucial for their young roster. With the season winding down, players like Donato will be looking to build on their successes, while the organization assesses its future direction.
In college hockey news, UMass’ thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over Minnesota on Thursday ended the sophomore seasons of Blackhawks prospects Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore. Meanwhile, junior Jimmy Snuggerud has signed with the St. Louis Blues, leaving the Blackhawks to watch for potential signings from their own prospects as the NCAA season wraps up.
The Blackhawks will host the Utah team on Sunday, March 30, 2025, as they continue to search for consistency and build for the future.
The Golden Knights, now 44-20-8, will look to extend their winning streak as they head to Nashville for their next matchup. With a strong lineup and a solid record, they are poised for a deep playoff run.
