After snowstorm delays start, Hawks bury Panthers
Patrick Kane was talking Friday morning about how the game against the Panthers a few hours later was going to be a “little bit different.”
Kane was right, but not for the reason he thought, with former teammates Brian Campbell, Kris Versteeg, Tomas Kopecky, John Madden and Jack Skille returning to the United Center.
The wicked snowstorm that struck the area forced the start of the game to be delayed more than a half-hour, to after 8 p.m. The Panthers' team bus didn't arrive at the United Center until 6:44 p.m., taking an hour and a half to go about two miles.
Several Hawks didn't get to the rink until about an hour before puck drop as well. Kane was a late arriver, but that didn't stop him from having one of his best games in a long time with a goal and assist in the Hawks' 3-1 win over Florida.
“I was actually yelling at my dad in the car to get me to the rink faster,” Kane said. “I live about 10-15 minutes from the rink and it took me an hour and a half to get here.”
The UC still was about three-quarters full for the game, which impressed the players.
“It was tough for the players to get here so for the fans to make it after work and everything was pretty impressive,” Duncan Keith said.
Their third win in a row moved the Hawks back into first place in the Central Division past Detroit and St. Louis and in the NHL's overall standings with 64 points.
Kane's goal late in the second period was just his 11th of the season, first in eight games, second in 14 and fourth in 28.
“I kind of even forgot how to celebrate, to be honest with you,” Kane said. “Any time you can score after a slump, and a lot of focus on it, it's a good feeling.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville saw Kane's game coming around even before Friday.
“It was a matter of time because these last couple, three games he's been trending where he's been having more looks, and more quality looks,” Quenneville said. “It's nice to get that one, and I'd expect him to be more confident in those areas and keep it going.
“I think goal scorers, and guys that are top producers, that's what it's all about. They look forward to playing well, and they measure their play and performance by their production. When it's been as dry as it was, sometimes it can compound itself, and it plays on your mind. I thought the trend he's had in the last couple games, you know he's due, he was doing the right things, and that's why it's turning positive.”
Once the game started, the first 15 minutes were sluggish for both teams, probably affected by their routines being thrown off. But the Hawks owned the final three minutes, getting goals from Jonathan Toews and Keith.
A sequence that started with a good save by Ray Emery on Stephen Weiss ended with Toews scoring his 27th goal. A pretty pass by Kane sprung Toews on a partial breakaway and the captain didn't miss with a backhander at 17:40.
The Hawks went on the power play moments later with Keith making it 2-0 with 17 seconds left in the period on a slap shot through an Andrew Brunette screen.