Blackhawks beat Blues 4-2 for first win of the season on Patrick Kane's special night

After three games on the road, the Chicago Blackhawks finally hosted their first home game of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 6. It was an extra special game to celebrate the re-debut of Patrick Kane. For this contest, he put on a Blackhawk's sweater and skated on the home side at the United Center for the first time since Feb. 22, 2023.

There was plenty of pomp and circumstance surrounding Kane's return, with a huge introduction that gave the fans plenty to cheer about. But that was only just the beginning. Kane and the Blackhawks put on a show and came away with a big 4-2 victory over the Blues, their first win of the season.

Let's get to the highlights.

Blackhawks lineup & special teams

Roman Kantserov - Frank Nazar - Patrick Kane

Tyler Bertuzzi - Anton Frondell - Teuvo Teravainen

Ryan Donato - Oliver Moore - Nick Lardis

Cole Smith - Ryan Greene - Jordan Greenway

Bowen Byram - Artyom Levshunov

Alex Vlasic - Ian Cole

Wyatt Kaiser - Sam Rinzel

Spencer Knight/Arvid Soderblom

Scratches: Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Andrew Mangiapane (lower body), Connor Bedard (IR)

The forward lines remained the same as the last game for this contest.

On defense, Byram drew back in after missing the last game due to he and his wife welcoming twin daughters! He was deployed on his natural left side after playing most of the first two games on the right, with Cole on the right side instead. Rinzel drew back in after being scratched last game.

Knight got the nod in net.

Power Play Units

PP1: Bertuzzi, Frondell - Kantserov - Kane, Byram

PP2: Kaiser, Moore - Nazar - Lardis, Rinzel

Penalty Kill Contributors

Vlasic, Teravainen, Frondell, Cole, Nazar, Levshuonov, Kaiser, Greenway, Greene, Smith, Byram

Blackhawks Game Notes

• The game started with a power play for the Blackhawks just a 1:23 into the game, as Jonaton Berggren was called for tripping. The Hawks didn't score, but there were plenty of extracurricular pushing and shoving after the whistles, setting the tone for the game.

• The man of the hour (Kane) was called for interference, but the Blues weren't able to the capitalize on the ensuing power play. As a matter of fact, Nazar had a breakaway and came close to scoring a shorthanded goal.

• After some pretty even back-and-forth, the Blues struck first. A bad turnover by Lardis resulted in a goal for Jason McTavish to make it 1-0. Lardis has had a rough start to the season.

• At the end of the first period the Blackhawks line of Bertuzzi, Frondell and Teravainen had some sustained time in the offensive zone, creating numerous chances. But once it was said and done the Blues led 1-0 at the end of the first. Shots were tied at 7-6 for the Hawks.

• The beginning of the second frame didn't appear to start any better for the Blackhawks. Kantserov and Nazar somehhow collided with each other at the blue line, and Connor McMichael scored on the play. However, the Blackhawks challenged for offside and the goal was negated. Still just 1-0 for the Blues.

• The Blackhawks received a power play just a few minutes later, and the first unit was actually booed off the ice. They insisted on the drop pass to enter the zone, and once they did get in their passes just weren't connecting. But then the second unit came on. Nazar rushed the net with a shot that Blues netminder Joel Hofer stopped. But Rinzel picked up the rebound for his first goal of the season and to tie the score 1-1. Nazar and Moore were credited with the assists on the power play goal.

• Chicago took the momentum and ran with it, because exactly two minutes later Frondell found the back of the net. It was all made possible by a beautiful pass from Levshunov. Teravainen earned the secondary assist on the play.

• The Blues got their feet under them a little bit towards the end of the second frame, but the Blackhawks held on and went to the locker room leading 2-1 in goal and 17-14 in shots.

• Teravainen did not return in the third period, leaving the Blackhawks with 11 forwards for the final 20 minutes. After the game, head coach Jeff Blashill said Teravainen will not travel with the team to play the New York Islanders on Thursday (Oct. 8).
  

• The Blues made Knight's life difficult for him in the third period, throwing everything but the kitchen sink on net. But Knight held on. All in all, he stopped 26-of-28 shots for a stellar .929 save percentage.

• The Blackhawks took advantage of the Blues emptying their net at the end of the game by scoring two empty net goals; one by Smith and the other by Nazar. Unfortunately, Connor McMichael scored inbetween there, but it ended up not mattering.

• Smith's tally was actually a shorthanded goal after Kantserov was called for a questionable tripping call to send the Blues to the power play with 2:23 to go in the game. Smith really turned on the burners after a long shift on the penalty kill.

• And finally, here's Nazar's empty net goal to seal the deal. Nazar has been playing some of his best hockey of late. He finished the night with a goal, as assist and three shots on goal in 19:35 minutes of ice time. Bertuzzi and Frondell were credited with the assists, which also gave Frondell a two-point night.

Quotable Quotes

Rinzel on the entire defensive corps efforts on this night, "I felt like everyone was just kind of moving their legs and holding on to the pucks we needed to and making space plays. I thought we had a mature game." On playing with Kaiser, "It feels good to play with him; he obviously talks a lot, so it's good playing with him, for sure."

Knight concurred on the overall effort of the team. "Overall I thought everyone battled, top to bottom. We played a selfless game. We played with discipline, we made the right plays at the right time."

Kane enjoyed the night, for sure. But it was also a bit bittersweet. He talked about how special it was that Jonathan Toews came to see the game. "It's kind of crazy how fast it goes by. I mean, just thinking about like being in rookie camp together and being roommates and hanging out and kind of developing something here was so special."

Finally, Coach Blashill put a bow on the night by complimenting the team for a job well done. "Regardless of the outcome, I thought there was large parts of the game tonight that our process was the best it's been in the four games played ... being on top of people, D-gaps, ending plays early, our forward reloads. I thought that's much more how we want to play."

The Blackhawks head to New York to take on the Islanders on Thursday and then will be back at the United Center on Saturday to host the Carolina Hurricanes. They'll be looking to build on this feel-good win.

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