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Blackhawks Close Preseason With 3-2 Win Over Blues
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- Blackhawks Close Preseason With 3-2 Win Over Blues
Blackhawks Close Preseason With 3-2 Win Over Blues
The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in the preseason finale at the United Center on Saturday. Rookie forwards Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov tallied two of the Blackhawks' three goals, while veteran defenseman Ian Cole also scored.
Spencer Knight earned his second preseason win in as many starts, stopping 29 of 31 shots faced. Knight outdueled Blues' starter Joel Hofer , who allowed three goals on 22 shots.
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The Blackhawks stormed out to a 3-0 lead in 30 minutes, with Frondell opening the scoring at 6:27 in the first period. Frondell followed up on Tyler Bertuzzi 's rebound, blasting a shot past Hofer for his first preseason goal.
In the second period, the Blackhawks found ways to get behind the Blues' defense for multiple breakaway attempts, burying two in the process. First, gritty defensive defenseman Cole found himself 1-on-1 with the Blues' netminder on a breakaway out of the penalty box. Cole kept his composure and calmly slipped a shot between Hofer's wickets at 7:00, doubling the Blackhawks' lead.
Kantserov also got loose on a breakaway chance, thanks to sweet passes from Nick Lardis and Bertuzzi on the power play. Kantserov drove in on net and lifted a backhanded shot over Hofer's glove for his first preseason goal at 9:31.
The Blues didn't go down without a fight, as their NHL-heavy lineup gained momentum with a late second-period strike. Ryan Donato committed a disastrous defensive-zone turnover, and Jonatan Berggren beat Spencer Knight with a wrist shot at 19:04, trimming the deficit to two.
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After two successful penalty kills in the third, the Blues pulled Hofer to get the extra attacker on the ice in the final minutes. With a 6-on-5 advantage, Colton Parayko gave his club some late life, cutting the lead to 3-2 at 18:44. It's never easy, is it?
The Blackhawks surrendered a few too many scoring chances in the final minutes and missed the empty net four times. Regardless, Knight made multiple timely saves to bleed the clock, keeping the Hawks ahead as the final horn sounded.
With the win, the Blackhawks finished their four-game preseason slate 2-1-1, winning both games at the United Center.
After shaky performances in the last two preseason matches, an improved effort in the finale vs. St. Louis was crucial. For the most part, the Blackhawks accomplished that, limiting the Blues to nine high-danger scoring chances at even strength.
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Offensively, the Blackhawks also had more sustained zone time and converted on their chances. In St. Louis on Thursday, they lacked in both areas. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Hawks generated 4.14 expected goals in all situations.
Up next, the 2026-27 regular season! The Blackhawks have an off day tomorrow before having their final training-camp practice on Monday. Then it's time to travel to Las Vegas.
First Period
Frondell opened the scoring at 6:27, following up on Bertuzzi's rebound to put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0 early. Off the draw in the Blues' zone, Bertuzzi quickly swatted the puck on target with his backhand, trying to sneak a shot past Hofer. Bertuzzi's bid clanked off the near post, but Frondell was in position for the follow-up.
Tyler Bertuzzi➡️Anton Frondell🚨
Bertuzzi's backhander hits the post, but Frondell finds the loose puck & puts the #Blackhawks ahead 1-0! pic.twitter.com/NBkyDAGVGO— Talkin' Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) September 26, 2026
After a chippy affair at Enterprise Center on Thursday, it was no shock that tension boiled over to the preseason finale. At 13:42, Cole Smith took a run at Philip Broberg in the offensive zone, and Logan Mailloux wasn't pleased that his defensive partner was targeted.
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Smith and Mailloux dropped the glove, with both players landing some quality shots before the Blues blueliner landed the takedown. Smith has 25 career NHL fights under his belt, so he knows how to handle himself. Expect him to scrap a few times this season.
Cole Smith scraps with Logan Mailloux👊 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/lQRDoQ6EyI
— Talkin' Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) September 26, 2026
The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, although the Blues closed out the period with some momentum. St. Louis led 8-5 in shots on goal and 7-3 in scoring chances through 20 minutes.
Second Period
In the opening minutes of the second period, Bowen Byram nearly doubled the Blackhawks' lead on their second power-play chance. Byram found an errant pass while flying downhill in the offensive zone, and he waited patiently for Hofer to go down in the butterfly. He ripped a shot over Hofer's blocker, but the puck rang off the post. Still 1-0.
Byram nails the post with a power-play shot: pic.twitter.com/H9jMsHNxo1
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) September 27, 2026
The Blackhawks found themselves in a pickle near the midway point. Cole and Smith, two vital penalty-killers, were both in the penalty box. The Blues had a 5-on-3 opportunity, but the Blackhawks were the ones finding the back of the net during the sequence.
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As Cole's penalty expired, he raced out of the box and found a loose puck at center ice, with an errant Blues' shot attempt ringing around the boards. Cole was all alone for the breakaway, a situation he surely hasn't seen much of in his career. Yet, Cole converted on his chance, slipping a shot through Hofer's wickets at 27:00. 2-0, Blackhawks.
Ian Cole🚨
Cole comes flying out of the penalty box & sneaks a shot through Hofer's wickets! 2-0 #Blackhawks . pic.twitter.com/nLQDzjpbQ2— Talkin' Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) September 27, 2026
The officials called Zach Dean for interference at 8:52, sending the Blackhawks to their third power play. This time, the top unit converted, with a slick passing play to set up Kantserov for his first preseason goal. Bertuzzi found Kantserov with a saucer pass, and the Russian winger roofed a backhanded shot past Hofer at 9:31. 3-0, Blackhawks.
Nick Lardis➡️Tyler Bertuzzi➡️Roman Kantserov🚨
Nifty saucer pass from Bertuzzi to find Kantserov, and he buries a backhanded beauty to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-0! Kantserov's 1st preseason goal. pic.twitter.com/tgYGpCAQAs— Talkin' Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) September 27, 2026
The Blues broke up Knight's shutout bid in the final minute of the period, as Donato committed a costly defensive-zone turnover. Oddly, Donato held onto the puck for far too long, and Berggren stripped him with some physical play. Berggren snapped a shot past Knight's glove at 19:04 to cut the Blackhawks lead to 3-1.
Jonatan Berggren does it all by himself. Literally. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/X4UDqRxbFz
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 27, 2026
The Blackhawks took a two-goal lead into the second intermission, although the Blues remained ahead in the stats. St. Louis led 17-14 in shots on goal and 14-12 in 5-on-5 scoring chances.
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Third Period
Through the first 19 minutes, the Blackhawks held strong to keep the Blues off the board and stay ahead by two. Two terrific penalty kills, as Dillon Boucher committed two separate infractions, played a big part.
That was until Hofer hit the bench for the extra attacker, as Parayko buried a wrist shot from the point at 18:44. With just over a minute to play, the Blackhawks' lead was cut to one.
Colton Parayko, with the goalie pulled, makes things interesting. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/yZXuUsA3F5
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 27, 2026
It was a little too close for comfort, but the Blackhawks held on to split the two-game exhibition slate with the Blues and finish the preseason with a 2-1-1 record.
The next time the Blackhawks play at the United Center, it will be the home opener on Oct. 6… against the Blues. Let the games start counting for real!
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