Patrick Kane’s return to the United Center had the right ending for Chicago: a win, a loud building and a Blackhawks club finally in the victory column.
Chicago beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Tuesday in its home opener, snapping a three-game skid to start the season. Kane, back with the organization after signing a two-year, $16 million contract on July 23, logged 20:55 and put two shots on Joel Hofer.
The 37-year-old winger spent his first 16 NHL seasons in Chicago and helped deliver three Stanley Cups. Before puck drop, the Blackhawks played a tribute video during introductions, drawing a thunderous reception from the home crowd.
Chicago turns the game in the second period
- St. Louis opened the scoring at 15:38 of the first period after Chicago forward Nick Lardis turned the puck over in the neutral zone. Connor McMichael carried it into the Blackhawks end and slipped a backhand feed to McTavish, who beat Spencer Knight with a wrist shot from the slot.
- The Blues appeared to double their lead 1:05 into the second period when McMichael scored, but Chicago challenged for offside and video review erased the goal.
- That reversal gave the Blackhawks an opening. Defenseman Sam Rinzel tied it 1-1 on the power play at 5:40, finishing a rebound after Frank Nazar drove the puck toward the net from the right side.
- Chicago moved ahead 2-1 at 7:40. Artyom Levshunov collected the puck at the right point, worked through the middle and found Anton Frondell with a backhand pass. Frondell converted from low in the right circle.
- Cole Smith gave the Blackhawks breathing room with a short-handed empty-net goal at 18:51 of the third period.
- McMichael answered on the St. Louis power play at 19:22, cutting the margin to 3-2, but Nazar sealed the result with an empty-netter 34 seconds later.
Notebook
Frondell and Nazar each finished with a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks improved to 1-3-0. Knight stopped 25 shots behind a Chicago group that held on through the late Blues push.
McMichael posted a goal and an assist for St. Louis, while Hofer made 17 saves. The Blues fell to 1-2-0 and have dropped two straight.
Chicago also lost forward Teuvo Teravainen during the game. He appeared to sustain a lower-body injury in the second period, did not return for the third and played no further part in the 4-2 win.
