Chicago Blackhawks

Rinzel and Frondell score, Blackhawks beat Blues 4-2 in Kane's return to Chicago

Posted October 06, 2026 10:32 pm

By MATT CARLSON

St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich, left, defends Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, right, during Tuesday’s game in Chicago. (David Banks/AP)

Sam Rinzel and rookie Anton Frondell scored 2 minutes apart in the second period and the Chicago Blackhawks held on in their home opener for their first win of the season, 4-2 over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.

Patrick Kane played his first home game with the Blackhawks since signing a two-year, $16 million contract in July. The 37-year-old forward received a pregame video tribute and a roaring welcome from a sold-out United Center crowd in his return to the team for which he played his first 17 seasons.

Cole Smith scored a short-handed, empty-net goal with 1:09 left to make it 3-1, but Connor McMichael whipped in a power-play goal with 38 seconds left and goalie Joel Hofer on the bench to cut it to 3-2.

Frank Nazar slid in another empty-netter with 4 seconds remaining.

Spencer Knight made 25 saves for Chicago, which had lost its first three games on the road while being outscored 15-5. Knight stopped Pavel Buchnevich on a breakaway late in the second, and was sharp in the third to keep Chicago ahead.

Mason McTavish also scored for the Blues (1-2). Hofer stopped 17 shots.

St. Louis' Colton Parayko played in 803rd NHL game, matching Barret Jackman for the most in franchise history among defensemen and second overall behind forward Bernie Federko (927 games).

Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen was injured in the second period and didn’t return.

Rinzel drifted to the slot and popped in a rebound of Nazar’s shot to tie it 1-all at 5:40 of the second as a Chicago power play expired.

Frondell put Chicago ahead, firing in a one-timer from the right side off a feed from Artyom Levshunov.

Up next

Blackhawks: At the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov celebrates a goal by center Anton Frondell against the St. Louis Blues during Tuesday’s game in Chicago. (David Banks/AP)

Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane is introduced during the Blackhawks home opener against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in Chicago. (David Banks/AP)

Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight, left, makes a save on St. Louis Blues left wing Connor McMichael, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (David Banks/AP)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, left, makes a save on Blackhawks center Frank Nazar, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (David Banks/AP)