Kane learning to play with pain

All dressed up and sporting a tiny shiner under one eye, Patrick Kane was the last of several Blackhawks and Redwings, including both head coaches, ushered by the NHL media relations staff into the interview room following the Winter Classic.

While others before him addressed reporters, Kane was receiving treatment from the Blackhawks' athletic training staff, presumably on his injured right ankle.

"It's my left shoulder. Who told you it was the ankle?" Kane said, his response drawing laughter.

The kid still has wit even if his game and health are off a bit.

The Blackhawks' 20-year-old star wasn't much of a factor in the 6-4 loss to Detroit at chilly Wrigley Field on New Year's Day. He hasn't been his usual offensive force since falling awkwardly along the boards and twisting his leg after a hit by the Red Wings' Dan Cleary midway through the opening period at Detroit on Tuesday night.

Kane hasn't had a point in his last three games, a drought he hasn't experienced since February of his rookie campaign last season.

"I haven't had too many injuries in my career," said Kane, who still leads the Blackhawks in assists (25) and points (41). "So I've got to kind of learn how to play through the pain and through these kind of things. (The injury) wasn't really a fun thing to deal with, but at the same time I guess you've got to learn. That's why hockey is a tough game."

Kane hasn't missed a game in his Blackhawks career, suiting up in all 82 last season and all 35 this season. It'll be interesting to see if he plays Sunday night, when the Blackhawks host Calgary.

Had it not been the Winter Classic, you wonder if Kane would have played Thursday.

"I mean, it was one of those games you can't really pass up to play in," he said. "(It was a) once in a lifetime experience to play in one of these games. Maybe, who knows. I wanted to get out there with all the atmosphere. Just being out there for practice (on Wednesday) and seeing the rink, you feel like you're skating on an open field."

While most NHL players grew up playing hockey on ponds or outdoor rinks, Kane got his first taste of it Thursday - surprising, since he grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. The puck-drop temperature was 32 degrees, with 40,818 bundled-up and raucous fans in attendance.

"It was a cool feeling," said Kane, who wore a faceless ski mask under his helmet. "Just sitting on the bench and looking at the whole crowd, the whole atmosphere, it was really unreal. It was like it wasn't really happening. It's one of those things that was really fun to be a part of. Just looking around, it was a really good feeling."