Kane comes through for Hawks in shootout win
Patrick Kane gave the Blackhawks exactly what they need from him — clutch goals at critical times.
Kane, who has been struggling offensively since returning from a high ankle sprain, snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal 7:50 into the third period Friday night then helped put the finishing touches on a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators by scoring again in the shootout.
Kane's goal was his first in eight games since Nov. 30, and first in six since returning from his injury.
“I know I've had some chances the last couple games and they haven't gone in,” Kane said. “It's nice when you finally do see a puck go in. It's good to celebrate.”
The Hawks celebrated a win they absolutely had to have against one of the weaker teams in the Eastern Conference and the NHL. Sunday's game against the Islanders at the United Center is another must-win.
“We've got to take advantage of the home ice,” Patrick Sharp said. “We want to definitely get on a roll here. There's not so much time left and with only a number of games remaining. We're past the halfway point and we all see the standings.”
The Hawks didn't start well again, then surrendered yet another power-play goal 32 seconds into the second period when Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson broke a scoreless tie with Duncan Keith off for hooking.
Sharp responded with his 24th goal minutes later at 4:08, which is how it stood going to the third period. It was also the 150th goal of Sharp's career.
“We felt we were coming along all night,” defenseman Brian Campbell said. “We were good tonight; we weren't great, but you have to find ways to win hockey games that way and tonight we found ways.”
Kane put the Hawks ahead when he stole the puck from Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson and snapped one past goalie Brian Elliott from inside the left circle.
“He made a good play there and it was nice to see the timeliness of the goal,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
Kane's goal looked as if it might be the game-winner, but the Senators forced overtime on Milan Michalek's goal with 1:25 to play that came after Elliott was pulled for a sixth attacker.
Toews scored first leading off the in the shootout for the third time in 4 attempts this season. After Alex Kovalev missed the net on his try against goalie Corey Craweford, Kane snapped another one past Elliott.
The shootout ended when Alfredsson hit the post.
“Those are the games we talked about, going into the third period that going forward we have to find a way to get something, and 2 (points) is the right number,” Quenneville said. “I thought the last two periods we were better and we didn't give up much.”
The Hawks were outshot 11-8 in the first period and were fortunate to come out in a scoreless tie.
“It was better than the last two, but nowhere near good enough,” Quenneville said of the start.