Shootout shutout not a concern so far for Kane

Patrick Kane isn't worried about being 0-for-3 in shootouts after he was one of the best in the NHL at it last season.

Kane was 7-for-9 as a rookie for the fifth-best percentage of success in the league, so he remains confident the goals eventually will come in those critical situations that decide the extra point.

"I just have to go out and have confidence in the move I'm going to do," Kane said. "I had success last year, and I've missed 3 shots this year. There's a lot of players doing a lot worse out there.

"When you see guys like (Pittsburgh's Evgeni) Malkin is 8-of-38, or something like that, I'm 7 of 12, which is still 50 percent."

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville remembered when he was coaching the Avalanche and how future Hall of Famer Joe Sakic would struggle in shootouts.

"Joe had the same frustration for a couple of years," Quenneville said. "He kept hitting posts, crossbars, had the goalie beat and would hit the nob of the stick. Then he got one and it was better.

"We've got some pretty good guys going, and these guys can score. They'll score."

Martin Havlat also is 0-for-3 in the three shootouts the Hawks have lost in three tries. Jonathan Toews scored in Saturday's shootout and is 2-for-2 for the season.

Quenneville still is getting acquainted with his players and tinkering in the shootout rotation. He used Patrick Sharp for the first time Saturday (a miss) and had used Kris Versteeg last week (a miss) in the shootout loss at St. Louis.

"I like our personnel and I like our options as well," Quenneville said. "Certainly we'll talk about it and try to maybe look at different sequences of when guys are going, but we feel with the personnel we have going it should give us some production.

"It's something we'll always practice and always be aware of who might be hot or who's deserving. They are valuable points and we want to make sure we get our share as we go along."

Kane was the key to the Hawks going 5-4 in shootouts last season as the first shooter out of the box. More times than not the Hawks got a lift when he scored first.

Quenneville chose him to go first Saturday, but Kane lost control of the puck before he could get a shot off against Red Wings goalie Ty Conklin.

Kane was nearly automatic last season when he deked to his backhand, but this season he has tried that move only once in three attempts.

"You don't like to tell goal scorers how to score because that's their bread and butter," Quenneville said. "I know goalies study the players and shooters as well, but I think (Kane) is versatile in all his selection of plays. I think eventually you score one and you're back at it."

Kane admits he hasn't look as confident approaching the goaltender.

"I just need to get the confidence back," Kane said. "That's all it is when you go down there, being confident with what stick you have, being confident with what you're going to do. It's all mental at some point. It's all in your head."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, 7 p.m.

TV: Versus

Radio: WGN 720-AM

At a glance: The Wild has yet to lose in regulation, going 5-0-1 while allowing only 12 goals. Goalie Niklas Backstrom has a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. The Minnesota penalty-killers are a perfect 19-for-19 to rank first in the NHL.

Next: Dallas Stars at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

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