CHICAGO _ The Blackhawks made franchise history Thursday.
The 10 goals they scored during a 10-1 victory against the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins set a team record for a season-opener.
Brandon Saad became the second Hawk to record a hat trick in an opener, along with Bobby Hull, who did it in 1965.
Ryan Hartman had a goal and four assists, Patrick Kane had a goal and three assists, Nick Schmaltz scored twice and Patrick Sharp scored in his return to the Hawks, who scored 10 for the first time game since 1988.
Kane was almost behind the net when he backhanded a pass to Hartman for the Hawks' first goal against former Blackhawk Antti Niemi with 6 minutes, 21 seconds into the game.
Forty-five seconds later, Saad beat Niemi again, this time on a rebound. Twenty-nine seconds after that, Schmaltz backhanded one past Niemi to make it 3-0.
One minute, 46 seconds later, Saad scored again, forcing Niemi to the bench.
Saad completed his hat trick in the third period when Jonathan Toews found him to make it 9-1.
Patrick Sharp made it 5-0 with 2:59 left in the first period, when the Hawks outshot the Penguins 21-12.
