The 37-year-old forward signed a two-year, $16 million contract ($8 million average annual value) on July 23 to return to Chicago, where he played his first 16 NHL seasons, including winning the Stanley Cup three times.
Kane had two shots on goal in 20:55 of ice time to help the Blackhawks win their home opener after starting the season with three losses. Kane received a raucous ovation when the Blackhawks honored him with a video tribute during pregame introductions.
Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar each had a goal and an assist, and Spencer Knight made 25 saves for the Blackhawks (1-3-0).
Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist, and Joel Hofer made 17 saves for the Blues (1-2-0), who have lost two in a row.
McTavish put the Blues ahead 1-0 at 15:38 of the first period. McMichael picked up the puck in the neutral zone after a giveaway by Chicago’s Nick Lardis. McMichael carried the puck into the offensive zone and backhanded a pass to McTavish, who put a wrist shot past Knight’s glove from the slot.
An apparent goal by McMichael at 1:05 of the second period was overturned on video review after the Blackhawks challenged the play for offside.
Rinzel, a defenseman, tied the game 1-1 on the power play at 5:40. Nazar moved in from the right side and put the puck on Hofer. Rinzel swept in and scored on the rebound.
Frondell put Chicago ahead 2-1 at 7:40. Defenseman Artyom Levshunov took the puck at the right point, weaved through the slot and made a backhand pass to Frondell, who put the puck into the net from the bottom of the right face-off circle.
Cole Smith's empty-net goal while the Blackhawks were short-handed made it 3-1 at 18:51 of the third period.
McMichael scored on the power play for the Blues at 19:22 to make it 3-2. Nazar's scored an empty-net goal at 19:56 for the 4-2 final.
Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen did not come out for the third period after sustaining an apparent lower-body injury in the second. He did not play for the rest of the game.
