Kane gives teammates helping hand
ST. LOUIS -- Patrick Kane is proving he knows how to do more than score goals.
The Blackhawks' rookie winger has become their best set-up man. Kane had 2 assists in Friday's win over Phoenix after coming off a 3-assist performance in Wednesday's win over Tam[pa Bay.
Kane brought a team-high 20 assists into Saturday's game against the Blues, which was good for the ninth-best total in the NHL.
Kane's no-look backhand pass to Patrick Sharp for a goal against the Lightning was every bit as spectacular as Jonathan Toews' memorable goal earlier in the season against Colorado.
"He's got great vision," said Hawks coach Denis Savard. "That play he made to Sharp, that was a pretty good pass. He's a shooter, too. You've seen him shoot pucks. I just think he recognizes what's the best play. Out of 10 choices, he'll probably make eight good ones, and that's pretty good."
Last season with the London Knights in his final season of junior hockey, Kane had 83 assists to go with 62 goals in 58 games.
Kane, by the way, is already looking forward to Dec. 15, when he plays his first NHL game in his hometown of Buffalo.
Kane's father, Patrick Kane Sr., in town for Friday's game against Phoenix, estimated there will be 150 friends and family members on hand at HSBC Arena -- most of them wearing No. 88 Kane Hawks jerseys.
Shaping up: Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien's hat trick Friday against Phoenix was impressive, but coach Denis Savard sees a young player getting better on the other side of the puck as well.
"He has been impressive all the way around," Savard said. "He's physical and he's managing his game better. We know he has all kinds of ability."
Savard said Byfuglien will continue to move between defense and wing depending on injuries. Byfuglien likely will go back to wing on Wednesday against Vancouver when James Wisniewski returns from his injury to rejoin the blue line.
The Hawks quietly believe Byfuglien's future is likely as a power forward.
Milestone night: Blues winger Keith Tkachuk played in his 1,000th game Saturday. It only seems that 950 of them have been against the Hawks.
Almost switched: The Blues asked the Hawks if they could move Saturday's game to this afternoon so as not to conflict with the Missouri-Oklahoma Big 12 championship game.
The Hawks were agreeable until they learned that the Score could not air the game on radio because of Bears pregame programing. It also would have cost the Hawks $50,000 to change their charter plans, which they weren't willing to do.