Chicago Blackhawks top prospect Teuvo Teravainen, a gifted 20-year-old forward, was recently asked who he modeled his game after growing up.

He answered immediately: teammate Patrick Kane and the Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk.

His choices weren't surprising. Datsyuk and Kane have set the bar for creativity and stickhandling. Jaromir Jagr has even gone on record saying his two favorite players to watch now are Datsyuk and Kane.

The Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry may not be as fierce as it once was now that the teams see less of each other, but there's still plenty of reason to watch, and that starts with Datsyuk and Kane. When the two skilled forwards take the ice in Chicago on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, there's always that chance they'll do something extraordinary with the puck.

"For me, both players are special offensive players that see the game much slower than others," a Western Conference scout said of Datsyuk and Kane. "Worth the price of admission for fans, and scouts alike."

Showdown: Datsyuk vs. Kane Two of the most creative players in the league face off in ESPN.com's Showdown between the Red Wings and Blackhawks. Datsyuk Kane 44 Games 57 17 Goals 27 25 Assists 36 42 Points 63 +7 +/- +10 18:56 TOI/G 20:03 3rd in Atlantic Standings 3rd in Central

Stats: Every elite offensive player strives for a point per game. There are undoubtedly good days and bad days, but to average a point equates consistent production. The 36-year-old Datsyuk has been at it a bit longer and has compiled 846 points in 868 career regular-season games. The 26-year-old Kane has registered 556 points in 572 games.

Age has impacted Datsyuk in that he's been less durable in recent seasons. He hasn't played more than 70 games in a season since the 2010-11 campaign. But when he has been on the ice, he's still at an elite level. He's still considered one of the game's premier two-way forwards, and he still puts up points. He has 42 points in 44 games this season.

Datsyuk and everyone else in the league is chasing Kane right now. He leads the NHL with 63 points. Kane has been among the league's points leaders a few times -- he finished fifth in 2012-13 and ninth in 2009-10 -- but leading the pack is new territory for Kane. His season has been a result of not going more than two games without a point and having 19 multi-point games.

Strengths: Vision and hands is where it begins for Datsyuk and Kane. They not only see the ice like few can, but they can also maneuver around it while never losing possession of the puck. Type in Kane and Datsyuk into YouTube and be sure to put aside some time. There are a number of highlight packages of them stickhandling through multiple defenders, perfectly setting up teammates and embarrassing goaltenders. Datsyuk's keep-away video for TSN and Kane's stickhandling one for Bauer are must-sees.

"He's a fun player to watch," Kane said of Datsyuk. "He's a great player. He's one of those guys that before I came to the NHL, any time the Red Wings were on TV, you'd try to watch because of the things he does on the ice.

"He's very creative with the puck and makes plays that not many guys can do. I think one of the biggest things with him is the respect factor he has from opposing teams. It seems like they kind of give him that time and space because you don't want to rush at him and he makes you look stupid."

The Red Wings possess that same respect for Kane.

"He's a good, good player," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Kane. "He's still a kid, so he's getting better."

Prediction: Traditionally, the Red Wings have gotten the best of the Blackhawks in Detroit, and the Blackhawks have defended home ice against the Red Wings. That will likely play out again. The Red Wings already beat the Blackhawks 4-1 in Detroit on Nov. 14. The Red Wings arrive in Chicago on a three-game losing streak, and the Blackhawks have won their past two games. Kane's and Datsyuk's lines rarely see the ice at the same time, but both players can be expected to play significant roles as they usually do.