Power play key to Kane's scoring totals

Coach Joel Quenneville thinks Patrick Kane has the ability to win a scoring title some day, especially if the Blackhawks can improve on the power play.

Kane had 55 points last year in 47 games to finish fifth in the scoring race, 5 points behind Art Ross Trophy winner Martin St. Louis of Tampa Bay.

“Perennially, he’s up there at the top of the league,” Quenneville said. “I look back the last couple years at our power play and it hasn’t been as good as it could be or should be or it’s going to be, so let’s hope that it’s great this year.

“I would say if our power play is great he’s going to be a big part of that. I think his numbers would be near the top.”

Kane is not thinking about that right now.

“It would be pretty special to do, but right now you’re just focused on getting off to a good start,” Kane said. “Everyone would love to win a scoring title.”

Quenneville says the sky is the limit for the superskilled Kane.

“We expect good things and big things from him,” Quenneville said. “He has progressed every year and gotten bigger and stronger and quicker. He’s matured as a player and individually.

“He’s not just happy being the way he has been. He works on his game and wants to be the best player he can be. That’s a good sign for us.”

Not a good start:After ranking third in the league in penalty killing last year, the Hawks stumbled in Tuesday#146;s opener and let Washington score 3 power-play goals.#147;We did a lot of good things, but I#146;m sure there#146;s some stuff we want to clean up,#148; goalie Corey Crawford said.#147;Seeing those guys (Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green) tee it up from the top of the circles is a tough spot to be, but we hung in there and made that big kill at the end,#148; Bryan Bickell said.Clinging to a 1-goal lead, the Hawks killed 1:26 of a Washington 5-on-3 in the last 3frac12; minutes to preserve the win.Power up:While the Capitals were 3-for-6 on the power play, the Hawks went 1-for-4, getting a goal from Brent Seabrook in the second period.#147;I thought our power play was better,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;I thought it was better than we probably saw the last half of the year into the playoffs. I thought we were shooting the puck earlier and trying to get some action off of that.#147;We made a nice play on the goal as well, converging on the net and Seabs moving into it and one-timing it. They (Capitals) do a lot of good things, and maybe we could pick up a couple things off of that.#148;