Patrick Kane wins in return to the United Center as a Chicago Blackhawk — 19 years after his 1st home game

On Oct. 6, 2007, Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane and fellow rookie Jonathan Toews arrived at the United Center for their first home game under a cloud of expectations and anticipation.

They weren’t just highly drafted hopefuls — Kane the No. 1 pick that year, Toews the No. 3 selection in 2006. They needed to be the team’s future.

After the Hawks erased a 3-1 third-period deficit to force overtime and eventually a shootout against the Red Wings, future Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk missed Detroit’s first attempt.

Next up, Kane.

One second he was on the bench chomping his white mouthguard, the next he was called upon by coach Denis Savard to open the shootout for the Hawks. He began skating toward goaltender Dominik Hasek, the former Sabre and childhood hero of the Buffalo, N.Y., native.

Kane went to the net, chose the right side and lifted a backhand shot into the back of the net. It ended up being the only successful attempt of the shootout for a 4-3 Hawks victory.

Nineteen years later to the day, Kane will play his first game at the United Center for the Hawks since they traded him at the 2023 deadline. A crowd of 20,270 was on hand Tuesday night for the home opener against the St. Louis Blues.

Kane’s memory was a tad fuzzy about his original home debut. It’s no surprise that the 37-year-old might get his 509 career goals and 892 assists mixed up with each other.

“I don’t even remember the first time (at the United Center), to be honest with you, it was so long ago,” Kane said with a chuckle Monday. “I wasn’t playing one of the preseason games and there was like 2,000 people in the crowd, and I just sat in the crowd with my suit and no one came up to me or anything.

“There wasn’t too much attention or spotlight on the Blackhawks back then. A little bit different now.”

To say the fans were excited is an understatement. Thousands of No. 88 jerseys — home, road, St. Patrick’s Day, Team USA and more — were scattered throughout the United Center seats on Tuesday.

Fans David and Eileen Glynn, both in Kane sweaters, recalled the moment they learned about Kane’s return.

“I immediately went online and got tickets before they skyrocketed,” Eileen Glynn said. “I grabbed two, second row off the glass, for like $300.

“By the time (David) got home and it hit the news, widespread, he came in like, ‘Can you even imagine United Center that night? Good tickets are going to be, you know, $1,500, $2,000.’ I said, ‘What would you say to $300?’ (and) he said, ‘No way!’ (so) we both were kind of jumping up and down, so excited.”

Kane’s last home game in the Hawks lineup came on Feb. 21, 2023, and he made his first return to the United Center on Feb. 25, 2024, with the Red Wings. He received a two-minute, camera-shaking standing ovation — and then scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

“It’s amazing to be back in Chicago and being a Blackhawk,” Kane said. “Who knows what it’s going to feel like, all the emotions and all that stuff. Definitely looking forward to it.”

Toews — who got three minutes of applause and took four laps during his return last season with the Winnipeg Jets — and Niklas Hjalmarsson were among those watching the morning skate Tuesday at the Blackhawks Ice Center.

The camera panned to the pair in the first period of Tuesday’s game, with Hjalmarsson raising the home No. 88 jersey while Toews hyped up the crowd.

The Hawks made sure Kane’s return was a spectacle. After the rest of the roster was announced, the United Center went dark for a video package featuring the right wing.

He kicked it off with his classic saying: “It’s Showtime!” before a montage of his highlights played. At the end, he asked the bubbly Hawks crowd: “The team’s ready, I’m ready. The question is, are you?”

And Kane came out to an arena-rattling roar. He raised his stick in thanks and let the moment marinate. During Jim Cornelison’s national anthem, Kane took a deep breath as he absorbed the applause, tension, and his return once more.

“It was special, a lot of buildup to the night,” Kane said postgame on Tuesday. “Coming out for warmups, hearing the cheer, and then getting ready to go out for the introduction was definitely a little emotional. You’re skating off the ice and it’s surreal, because (you) didn’t know if you’d have that chance to do it again.”

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former MVP returned to the Hawks this summer, signing a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract. Kane played for the Red Wings the last three seasons after the Hawks originally traded him to the New York Rangers.

Kane and general manager Kyle Davidson previously had been mum about a potential reunion. Still, the Hawks made sure no one else wore No. 88 — it was the first thing they told winger Andrew Mangiapane, who had been No. 88 with the Edmonton Oilers, when he was traded to the Hawks in March.

Eventually No. 88 will likely hang in the United Center rafters. But maybe there was a slight hunch that Kane would wear the jersey again.

He made it clear his return was about winning, not nostalgia.

“It’s not like I’m just coming back home to ride off into the sunset,” Kane said at his introductory news conference. “I want to be a big player here and help the team win.”

It hasn’t gotten off to the best start.

While Kane scored in his first game back, the Hawks were outscored 15-5 on an 0-3 opening trip. Connor Bedard’s absence hasn’t helped, but the young team looked lost at times during the three road losses.

After the decorative 88 and red carpet were removed, the veteran had to switch gears and focus on the task at hand — helping the Hawks win their first game of the season. The Blues finished the first period with a 1-0 lead on Mason McTavish’s goal.

The Hawks responded with their best period of the year, highlighted by goals by Sam Rinzel (5:40) and Anton Frondell (7:40).

“I was like a little kid in a candy shop, it was really cool to see,” Rinzel said of the Kane intro. “It’s pretty special and really cool to see as a younger kid. He’s been unbelievable and couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

The Hawks (1-3-0) didn’t make things simple in the third period. A St. Louis (1-2-0) rally with a goal from Connor McMichael cut the Hawks’ lead to one, but a last-second empty-net goal from Frank Nazar silenced the Blues 4-2 for their first win of the season.

“It’s really cool having Patrick Kane back here, how much it means to the city, to the fan base in general (and) this organization,” said Spencer Knight, who had 25 saves. “What’s so cool about having him around is that in the locker room, he’s a normal guy. Really easygoing, nice to everyone.

“I thought everyone battled from top to bottom, we played a selfless game. We played disciplined, we made the right plays at the right time, and then also lived to fight another day when we had to.”

Staying at the United Center should help. After Thursday’s trip to Long Island to play the Islanders, the Hawks will play seven straight home games. Toews, Hjalmarsson and others won’t be on the ice — but Kane will.

And for one night at least, that’s more than enough for the Hawks faithful.