Patrick Kane extends point streak to 26 games, longest for active NHLer

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO – While everyone else around the NHL has been debating why goal scoring is down, Patrick Kane has been busy putting together the league’s longest points-scoring streak in 22 years.

Kane, 27, picked up the second assist on Duncan Keith’s first-period power play goal Sunday to give him at least one point in 26 consecutive games. The point helped the Chicago Blackhawks down the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 for their fourth win in the past five games.

“It’s pretty special. He creates something every night,” Keith said. “I think a lot of it has to do with his work ethic, desire and how much he cares. His skill gets talked about, but one thing that doesn’t get mentioned a lot is how much he cares.”

The assist was not the prettiest of his streak. “I passed it and it went in 10 or 15 seconds later,” Kane said. “I actually didn’t know I got an assist until I heard him announce it. I was hoping they didn’t get it wrong.”

Kane’s streak is the longest in the NHL since Mats Sundin had a 30-game streak for the Quebec Nordiques in 1992-93. Along the way, Kane has also set records for the longest point streak by a Blackhawk and an American-born player.

Undoubtedly the Blackhawks were happy that Kane registered his point early in the game.

“Without talking about too much about it, (we) know there’s a game inside the game,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’re all having fun watching it and enjoying the different fashions in which he’s able to keep moving forward. Everyone is rooting for him as well. The earlier it’s accomplished (the better). I don’t think it’s a distraction early, but as the game goes deeper it can be.”

Kane leads the NHL with 46 points in 31 games, and he’s on a pace to register a 1980s-like 121 points. His career best is 88 points.

“No matter how we score a goal, he is always in and around the play,” Keith said.

The success of Kane’s line, which also includes Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov, has been crucial to the Blackhawks being able to keep pace in the highly competitive Central Division. Kane has either had the goal or assists on 54% of Chicago’s goals this season

“It’s not a question of if Kane is going to score, it’s when,” Toews said Sunday morning.

With the league deep in quality goalies and coaches putting a heavy emphasis on defense, it’s far more difficult to score a goal than it was even five years ago. But with 19 goals, Kane is on a pace to surpass his career best 30-goal season.

“I think it’s gotten to the point where I try not to think about it too much,” Kane said before the game. “I’m just kind of focused on playing the game and try to get better at certain things and wipe the slate clean every night.”

Teams have been scheming to stop him all season, but no one has been successful for 26 games.

“He’s the type of player who is going to stay level-headed,” said Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw. “He doesn’t want (the streak) to take away from our game. If it ends, it ends. If it keeps going it keeps going.”

Lately, Kane’s play hasn’t been as crucial to the Blackhawks’ success. Goalie Corey Crawford now has posted back-to-back shutouts. The Blackhawks, 6-2-2 in their last 10, seem to be finally coming together after revamping their Stanley Cup championship team in the offseason. Kane’s high level of play has bought them time to do that.



PHOTOS: NHL player power rankings