Kane lifts Blackhawks to dramatic victory over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Patrick Kane "pretty much grew up" in what's now known as First Niagara Center, a young hockey prodigy and Sabres fan cheering on his hometown team. Buffalo is one of the most hockey-mad cities in the United States, and Kane's seen plenty of players showered with boos by the locals.

"I remember them booing Eric Lindros when he was on Philly," Kane said. "He got thrown out of the game with 10 minutes left, and it wasn't fun anymore to watch the game because no one was booing him."

But Saturday was something different. Buffalo fans weren't just booing any old superstar. They were booing their superstar, the hometown hero, one of the greatest athletes ever to come from Western New York. Kane was booed nearly every time he touched the puck - more than a smattering, but less than a smothering - in his first game back in Buffalo since he was the subject of a three-month police investigation that yielded no charges against him.

Kane and his teammates were the ones left cheering, though, when he all but stole two points for the Hawks in a 3-2 shootout victory.

Kane scored off an Artemi Panarin pass in the final second of a two-minute, 5-on-3 power play - 6-on-3, actually, as Corey Crawford was pulled for an extra attacker - with 33.5 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Then Kane added the lone goal in the shootout for the win. It was the Hawks' first shootout of the season, and it followed an odd overtime that featured no 3-on-3 play because of penalties.

• This report was produced in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For the full story, check chicago.suntimes.com.