Blackhawks Prepared To Move On Without Patrick Kane
By Chris Emma-
CHICAGO (CBS) -- On impact, it seemed like bad news. Patrick Kane was cross-checked with his left shoulder leading to the United Center boards. He skated off favoring that arm and went straight to the locker room Tuesday night.
Early speculation appears grim, too, as a source said that Kane could be out "quite a while." However, the exact diagnosis and specific timetable remain to be seen at this point.
"He might miss some time," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Chicago's 3-2 shootout win over the Florida Panthers.
The injury occurred early in the first period when Kane was cross-checked by Florida defenseman Alex Petrovic as the Blackhawks winger was losing his balance. The hit resulted in a Chicago power play, which ended with Jonathan Toews netting a goal to give his team a 1-0 lead.
"It made me feel a little bit better," Quenneville said.
But the Blackhawks -- who have played lethargic hockey of late -- used it as a spark.
Physical play picked up for the remainder of the game, with the Blackhawks constantly pushing and shoving with Panthers. Frustration continued to grow as the contest moved along, with both teams fighting for critical two points.
"You're really ticked off when a player like him gets hurt," Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg said. "It's never good that way. Hopefully he's OK. If he's out for a while, we'll have to have a guy step up and play their best in his absence."
Kane had been putting together his best NHL season yet. Entering Tuesday's game, he was tied for the NHL lead in points with 64 -- 27 goals and 37 assists -- along with Washington's Nicklas Backstrom.
"He was well on his way," Versteeg said. "I'm sure he's heartbroken right now."
The maturation of Kane's game had reached a point this season where he could be recognized as one of hockey's best players. His stellar play had become consistent, not shown in flashes. Finally, Kane had become a real candidate to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.
"Showtime" had gained respect all throughout the NHL.
"He's grown as a player," Vancouver's Henrik Sedin said in a recent interview.
"He's so confident with the puck. He makes plays; it doesn't matter where it is."
Chicago closed the night with 77 points overall, placing it in fourth in the Western Conference, third in the Central Division and three points behind its rival, the St. Louis Blues.
However, the loss of Kane is a brutal blow for the Blackhawks. He had brought stability to a second line that was seeing success. Less than a week before the NHL's trade deadline, Chicago suffered a tough loss.
It remains to be seen how long Kane will be out, as his status was uncertain immediately after the game. However, the Blackhawks are prepared to move on without their star.
Follow Chris Emma on Twitter @CEmma670.