Bad break (already) for Hawks

The Blackhawks might have to start the regular season without Jonathan Toews after the prized rookie center broke a finger on his right hand in Wednesday 4-3 exhibition loss to Columbus at the United Center.

Toews was hurt blocking a shot in the second period and may or may not be able to play when the puck drops for keeps in less than two weeks on Oct. 4 at Minnesota.

"We'll see. He's a kid who has a lot of heart," said Hawks coach Denis Savard, who estimated Toews would be out for 2-3 weeks. "We'll see how he is (today)."

It was the second game for Toews, who is considered a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

Patrick Kane, the Hawks' other promising rookie, made his debut -- and it was a rough one. He played 15 minutes and didn't have a shot on goal.

Kane did spring teammate Yanic Perreault for a breakaway with a nice pass in the second period, but Perreault was stopped.

Perreault scored 2 of the Hawks' 3 goals and assisted on the third.

"I thought I was OK, but obviously I could be better," Kane said. "It was a little faster and not as much room to make plays.

"It's just going to take time. We'll take it game by game and see how it goes."

The veteran Perreault smiled when told Kane said it was a little faster out there than junior hockey.

"There's always a little step when you get to the NHL, but guys like (Kane and Toews) will get used to it as they gain some experience," Perreault said. "I'm not worried about those two guys. You'll see them in Chicago for a long time."

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin made the first of what Savard expects to be "four or five" preseason starts and had some good moments and some bad ones.

Khabibulin let Curtis Glencross' slap shot from inside the left circle trickle through him late in the second period to make it 2-2. But he had no chance on Manny Malhotra's winning goal with 7:02 to play -- a shot that deflected into the net off defenseman Brent Seabrook.

"It was game two for us and first game for Habby," said Savard. "It takes time. You can't expect to have everything in place after two games."

One of the most impressive players on the ice was Columbus right wing Jared Boll, the Crystal Lake native who caused havoc with his hitting.

Hawks rookie defenseman Ryan Stokes tried to gain some revenge late in the third period when he creamed Boll with a check, but it was Stokes who got the worst of it, suffering a nasty cut above his cheek from what appeared to be a stick.

Stokes quickly left the ice, leaving a trail of blood.