Toews, Kane get some competition

Don't look now, but the race for the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year is no longer a two-man race between the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

Kane still leads all rookies with 46 points, but right behind him with 45 is Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom.

Phoenix Coyotes center Peter Mueller also is making a big push to the finish line with his 19 goals and 37 points.

Toews, who had a strong return to the Hawks' lineup Sunday in Vancouver after missing 16 games with a sprained knee, has 15 goals and 33 points and still is a viable Calder candidate.

Kane was once considered by many to be the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, but his consistency has dipped. Kane has only 5 goals in 38 games since Nov. 15 and 7 points in his last 15.

It certainly appeared that Kane missed linemate Toews for the last six weeks.

"Kaner has been all right," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "But for him, or no matter who it is, you need that center because centers really control the game a lot of times. Especially a kid like Toews, who does everything well and works his butt off at both ends of the ice.

"Obviously when they play together they're a lot more effective. They have great chemistry with one another."

Kane was eager to be reunited with Toews again at Vancouver, but that plan changed quickly when Martin Havlat got sick early in the first period and couldn't play. Savard moved Kane back to Robert Lang's line, keeping Patrick Sharp with Toews, in an attempt to balance his lines offensively.

Havlat is expected to be close to 100 percent tonight against the Blue Jackets in Columbus, with Kane sliding back up to the No. 1 line with Toews and Sharp.

Kane was hoping the chemistry he had with Toews earlier in the year would resurface quickly.

"When you've played together for 30-40 games, you're going to get used to a guy and what he does, and the chemistry seems to build," Kane said.

The Hawks could stand for Kane to get hot with time running out on their season. Only 4 of Kane's 12 goals have come on what is now one of the worst power plays in the NHL. The Hawks ranked 27th in the league before going 0-for-5 in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Vancouver.

Kane believes there's still time for the Hawks to get on a roll and at least make a run at a playoff spot.

"The chase is on for us," Kane said. "We have to make sure we win a lot of games here to give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs. It can happen."

A strong finish by either Kane or Toews would improve their chances of becoming the Hawks' first rookie of the year since goalie Ed Belfour in 1991.