Chicago Blackhawks rookie Ryan Hartman scored his first NHL career goal in the second period against Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at the United Center in Chicago.
Hartman, a West Dundee, Illinois native, kept the puck in the Blues zone then fired a shot to the net, which fellow rookie Tyler Motte picked up and found Hartman, who slipped the puck past Allen’s five-hole.
Hartman is one of six rookies starting for the Hawks on opening night, and the first to record a goal among them. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound forward played in five NHL games last season, but failed to record a point. He’s played the last two seasons for AHL Rockford, scoring 13 and 15 goals, respectively, for the IceHogs. The Hawks look to use him in a bottom-six forward role this season.
The Hawks drafted Hartman with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft.