Kane's 'opportunity to step up' with Blackhawks

The good news is, the Blackhawks haven't lost Patrick Sharp for the season.

The bad news is, he will be out a minimum 2-3 weeks with what's believed to be a left-knee injury.

The old news is, Patrick Kane still is buried deep in a goal scoring drought that becomes even more worrisome with Sharp out of the lineup.

Kane has gone eight games without a goal and has just 1 in his last 21 games dating all the way to before Christmas.

Kane has been getting chances, including a point-blank opportunity against Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco in the first period Saturday. Kane looked at the roof almost in disbelief when the red light didn't go on.

"It's tough when you're getting your chances and you're not burying them, hitting posts and things like that," Kane said. "I'm probably playing the same way I was at the start of the year, but pucks just aren't going in for me. Hopefully I'm hot at playoff time when it's really important.

"The ankle feels better. It felt great the last couple games, so I can't use that anymore an as excuse, right?"

All joking aside, the Hawks are going to need forwards such as Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Troy Brouwer to help pick up the scoring slack without Sharp and not leave it to Martin Havlat and Jonathan Toews.

"I think it's an opportunity for guys like myself to step up and produce," Kane said. "Sharpie's been our biggest goal scorer since I've been here and we'll definitely miss him. He's a great leader in the room and knows how to get things done."

In Sharp's absence, Byfuglien and Brouwer should see their ice time increase from their average of 14 minutes. Byfuglien is coming off a strong game in the 6-2 win over Dallas as he responded in the right way from a two-game benching.

"I felt I competed on every shift and did the things I had to do to get back in the lineup," Byfuglien said.

Byfuglien has found it tough to score goals all season, but he may need to chip in more than a few now until Sharp returns.

"I'm not going to sit and worry about goals," Byfuglien said. "I have to worry about my consistency.

"Every team loses guys like (Sharp). We just have to find a way around it and hopefully the offense stays the way it is. It creates opportunities and more ice time for everyone."

The Hawks didn't release the results of Sharp's Monday MRI. It was coach Joel Quenneville who put the timetable on Sharp's return at 2-3 weeks.

"He'll be out at least a couple three weeks," Quenneville said. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"We've got some depth in the organization, and it's a good opportunity for some guys in different situations. Sharpie got a lot of key minutes, like on the power play."

Kane finished Saturday's game in Sharp's spot on a line with Toews and Brouwer.

"We haven't really been tested depth-wise all year, so this will be good to find out a little more about us," Quenneville said.

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum, 6:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

At a glance: Despite its 19-26-11 record, the Lightning is a dangerous team with all-stars Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis up front. Tampa Bay is the eighth-worst team in the NHL defensively, though, and just 10-11-7 at home. Cristobal Huet starts in goal for the Hawks and is 8-3 lifetime against the Lightning.

Next: Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center, 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=272598">Khabibulin has to cut Monday's workout short <span class="date"> [2/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>