Kane's game has been at another level

The NHL's biggest names can be found among the top 10 scoring leaders - Thornton, Ovechkin, Crosby, Gaborik, Kovalchuk, Heatley.

And Patrick Kane.

The Blackhawks' third-year winger is sixth in the league in scoring with 49 points after getting a power-play goal in Tuesday night's 4-1 victory over Minnesota at the United Center.

Right from the start of training camp Kane was bigger, stronger and quicker, and it has helped him be the Hawks' most consistent offensive player through the first half of the season.

"He's really progressed well from last year," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's bigger, quicker and he has the puck a lot this year and that line (with Jonathan Toews and Troy Brouwer) has been productive and effective.

"His game has gotten to a new level this year."

Kane has a nine-game points scoring streak (8 goals, 7 assists).

"Sometimes you just feel like you're going to score," Kane said. "It's been a fun little ride, but at the same time the most important thing is where the team is going. If you can help out scoring goals it's obviously good for the team. That's what I'll try to keep doing."

Injury report: Cam Barker missed Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury suffered in the third period Sunday against Anaheim. Joel Quenneville said Barker is day to day with the injury that isn't considered serious.

Niklas Hjalmarsson returned to the lineup against the Wild after sitting two games with a head laceration.

As for Dave Bolland and Adam Burish, both are more than a month away from returning. Bolland likely won't play until March with Burish possibly coming back sooner.

Havlat improving: Minnesota Wild coach Todd Richards said he thinks Martin Havlat will have a better second half after a disappointing first.

Havlat, who signed a six-year, $30 million deal as a free agent in July, has just 7 goals in 37 games.

"We signed him for long term; it's just not through the first 42 games," Richards told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I think it was a struggle at first. Lots of adjustments. I think there was a reason why, but his game has been getting better, and that's what we want."

Mark it down: The starting time of the Jan. 17 game in Detroit has been changed from 2 p.m. to 11:30 a.m. to accommodate NBC. The Hawks and the Red Wings will be featured in the network's first game-of-the-week telecast.