Artemi Panarin broke the Blackhawks’ scoreless preseason streak and Tyler Motte scored twice as the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-0 on Saturday night.
Scott Darling stopped all 18 shots he saw.
Coach Joel Quenneville talked of potentially splitting up Panarin and Patrick Kane, putting Panarin with Jonathan Toews, when this season begins. But Saturday was a reminder of the great chemistry Kane and Panarin have when they are together. Kane threw a perfect pass to Panarin, who blasted one past former Blackhawks goaltender Carter Hutton at 12:36 of the second period. It was the Blackhawks’ first goal of this preseason.
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Michal Kempny’s long shot, which looked like it deflected off something or someone, ended up being his goal to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead. Then Motte redirected a Dennis Rasmussen shot in front for a 3-0 edge. Motte added his second with 39 seconds remaining in regulation.