Kane gets the last laugh vs. Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - There have been so many ups and downs to Patrick Kane's season, the Blackhawks are hoping what's left is a big finish.

Kane, who lost a lot of his explosiveness in late December when he was hit by Dan Cleary in Detroit and suffered a high ankle sprain, has showed flashes of his pre-injury form more consistently of late.

Kane was jumping big time in the clinching Game 6 against Calgary on Monday and followed it up with 2 goals in Thursday's Game 1 loss to Vancouver, even though he was minus-3 for the night. Kane scored his fifth goal of the playoffs and had an assist Saturday night in the Hawks' 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Canucks in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.

"I thought the last few games he's been really effective," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's been more dangerous and had more speed in his game. When he has the puck he's really a threat to not just make plays, but a weapon to beat guys 1-on-1 or take a shot. He's one of those players who I'm sure there's an awareness on the other side."

Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchel might be aware of Kane, but that doesn't mean he is impressed by what he sees. Mitchell was quoted in Saturday's Vancouver Sun questioning Kane's all-around game and the 2 goals he scored on Thursday in the Hawks' 5-3 loss.

"That's his thing, he got a gift on a turnover on one in front of the net and the other one was just a power play and it was kind of a rebound that went right to him," Mitchell said. "That's kind of his game. He's kind of like (Sidney) Crosby that way. He'll stand off to the side of the net and not really be involved in things and get a lucky rebound and put it in the net.

"He kind of has that puck luck. He's a fine player, but I think where he is going to do his damage is on the power play. He is not a guy who is really going to hurt us at even strength, so that is kind of where we have to be aware of him."

It was Kane with the last laugh Saturday with his goal coming 5-on-5. Mitchell was minus-3 for a Vancouver defense that looked ordinary at best.

"I just try to play my game and do my own thing," Kane said. "That's OK, maybe they underestimate us."