Kane has goal, assist as Blackhawks beat Flames 4-1
CHICAGO (AP) There's just no stopping Patrick Kane these days.
And when the Chicago Blackhawks combine Kane's offensive touch with a solid defensive effort, the defending Stanley Cup champions are tough to stop, too.
Kane scored and had an assist in Chicago's quick three-goal outburst in the second period, and the Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 Sunday night.
Kane, who took over the NHL lead in goals (13) and points (28), has scored a goal in seven consecutive games and a point in 13 straight. He has 10 goals and 12 assists during his run to the top of the NHL scoring list.
But after this one, Kane shifted the spotlight from himself to his team's overall play.
''Sometimes we're happy with our game, sometimes we're not -whether we're scoring or not,'' Kane said. ''We want to show up every game for our team and make sure we're doing our job, whether it's offensively or defensively.''
According to a tweet from the NHL that credits the Elias Sports Bureau, Kane's goal-scoring streak is the longest for a Blackhawks player since Joe Murphy connected in nine straight in 1995. The team record is 10 games, set by Bobby Hull in 1968-69.
''I think if you start worrying about that stuff, it's only going to go to your disadvantage,'' said Kane, who also leads the Blackhawks with a plus-14 rating.
Rookie Artemi Panarin and Marian Hossa also scored in the Blackhawks' 1:55 blitz in the second to help lift Chicago to its second win in two nights and third in its last four contests. Jonathan Toews added an empty-netter with 37.4 seconds left.
Chicago backup Scott Darling made 25 saves in his fourth start. No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford got the night off following the Blackhawks' 4-2 win on Saturday in St. Louis.
The Blackhawks look more like their old selves with defensemen Duncan Keith, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, and Michal Rozsival back in the lineup. Both returned against the Blues and have jumped right in.
''That was probably our best two games back-to-back and the consistency that we always look for was right there,'' coach Joel Quenneville said.
David Jones scored for Calgary, which finished a four-game road trip at 1-3. Karri Ramo finished with 37 saves.
''I just think they outplayed us the majority of the game,'' Jones said. ''There were a few shifts here and there where we had good pressure, but we have to be a lot better.''
Panarin, Kane's linemate, has four goals and seven points in his last five games. Hossa's goal was just his second this season and first in a month.
Jones opened the scoring at 3:41 of the second when he outmuscled Chicago defenseman Trevor Daley at the edge of the crease and punched in a rebound. Darling made a pad save on Joe Colborne's initial shot from the slot.
The Blackhawks then took charge with three goals in a 1:55 span.
Kane tied it 1 all from a scrum at 6:37. After Trevor van Riemsdyk's initial shot, Kane pounced on a loose puck at the right edge of the crease and chipped a backhander high into net.
Hossa put Chicago ahead 1:03 later on a flipping, one-timer from the top of the slot that ticked in off Ramo's glove.
Set up by Kane's feed from behind the net, Panarin made it 3-1 just 52 seconds after that when he fired from the low edge of the left circle.
''They used their speed to their advantage and they caught us,'' Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. ''And here's a team that as soon as they get a good chance, you'll know that they'll capitalize on them.''
Darling made a left pad save on Matt Stajan, who broke in alone early in the third period, to preserve Chicago's two-goal lead. He also was sharp during a late Calgary push when Stajan's shot with four minutes left hit the post.
Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook went to the dressing room late in the second after a deflected shot by Calgary's Michael Frolik hit him in the forehead and cut him. Seabrook returned for the third.
NOTES: In his second game back after missing 10 following knee surgery (right meniscus), Keith had 24:13 of ice time to lead the team for the second straight night. The two-time Norris Trophy winner had of 27:34 of ice time at St. Louis on Saturday night. ... Calgary F Johnny Gaudreau, a finalist for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) last season, played in his 100th game. ... The Blackhawks start a six-game road trip, their longest this season, Wednesday at Edmonton. They won't play at home again until Dec. 1 as the circus takes over the United Center. ... Chicago F Andrew Desjardins was a scratch for the second straight game after playing in the Blackhawks first 16. ... A moment of silence for the Paris attack victims was held before the game.
