Kane's streak reaches team-record 22 in Blackhawks win

Ten, 20 or 30 years from now, no one will ask how Patrick Kane extended his points streak to 22 games to break Bobby Hull's team record of 21.

It will just look like this as the final entry in the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center on Dec. 6, 2015: EN — Artemi Panarin (9) wrist shot. ASST: Patrick Kane (26), Niklas Hjalmarsson (6).

The fact that Kane used his hand to bat the puck off the boards right to Panarin to set up Panarin's empty-net goal will be incidental. Of no consequence. Immaterial.

Seeing-eye singles count the same as hard liners in baseball, and goofy hand passes count the same as gorgeous behind-the-back passes that end up as goals in hockey.

“It's not your usual point, I guess,” Kane said. “But I think the exciting part was just how into it the crowd was when the announcement was made and hearing how excited they were. That was a fun little feeling there.”

So the streak is alive and now one better than Hull's streak set during the 1971-72 season.

“He obviously had a tremendous career, scored a lot of goals,” Kane said. “Any time you can put your name with Bobby Hull or Denis Savard or Eddie Olcyzk, you've got to be doing something right.”

The Hawks' other goals came from Marian Hossa (his fifth) and Teuvo Teravainen (also his fifth) as the top line seems to be getting some traction of late with those two reunited with Jonathan Toews.

Corey Crawford made 30 saves for the Hawks.

Hull spoke with the media outside the Hawks' dressing room before the game. The Hawks' legend reiterated what he told the Daily Herald on Friday, that he was rooting for Kane to break his mark.

Sunday, he also marveled at what Kane can do on the ice.

“No one handles the puck like Patrick Kane does and make his feet go the same way,” Hull said. “And I've always said that once a hockey player's feet stop, his brain stops too. … You can't pass the puck, you can't shoot it. He's always on the move and just a delight to watch.”

Kane admitted during the third period that he thought the streak might end. He ended up taking 5 total shots (3 on net) but never got one past Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson.

Then came that fateful hand pass and the ability to etch his name into the team record book.

“I think everybody on our team was rooting for him and going out of their way a little bit more of what we generally try to do,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “It's been a remarkable stretch for him.”

If Kane, who has 36 points (13 goals) during this run, can make the streak go six more games, he will break into the top 10 in NHL history.

The league record, which is Wayne Gretzky's 51, is light years away, however.

“I just hope he breaks (my) record and then goes on and chases Gretzky,” Hull said, then added with a laugh, “It's only 30 (more). It's not a big deal. He can get 30 more, I'm sure.”