- Patrick Kane scored in his first game back with the Blackhawks since 2023
- The unassisted goal cut Vegas’ lead to one early in the third period
- Read below for video of Kane’s goal and how the rest of opening night went
Patrick Kane didn’t need long to find the net back in a Blackhawks sweater.
The 37-year-old scored in his first game with Chicago since 2023 on Tuesday night, cutting the Golden Knights’ lead to 3-2 at 4:04 of the third period at T-Mobile Arena. It was his first goal as a Blackhawk since Feb. 22, 2023.
Kane won a foot race to a loose puck, drove to the net and slid a backhand around a sprawled-out Carter Hart. Nobody else got a point on it. Take a look at the goal:
Chicago’s social team went with the obvious pun:
That good feeling lasted 39 seconds. Noah Hanifin answered at 4:43 to put Vegas back up by two, and Mark Stone added an empty-netter late for a 5-2 final.
Even in the loss, he carried a heavy workload. Kane played 21:36 with four shots on goal, picking up extra shifts after Andrew Mangiapane left in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
His return came on a two-year, $16 million deal signed July 23. Kane spent his first 16 NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015 before the February 2023 trade to the Rangers. His last three seasons came in Detroit, and he showed up to camp saying he still had a lot left on the table.
Tuesday’s goal was No. 447 of his Blackhawks career. He came into the night third in franchise history in goals and second in assists (779) and points (1,225).
Jordan Greenway scored Chicago’s other goal in his Blackhawks debut, and Spencer Knight made 32 saves. On the other side, Jack Eichel picked up his 700th career point and rookie Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut as Ryan Craig won his first game as Vegas head coach.
Connor Bedard missed the opener while he recovers from shoulder surgery.
The Blackhawks visit Utah on Thursday.
