Blackhawks' Kane gets point in record 19th straight game
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored a point in his 19th consecutive game Saturday night to set a new NHL record for the longest points streak by a U.S.-born player.
Kane scored a power-play goal midway through the first period of the Blackhawks' road trip finale against the Los Angeles Kings, beating Jonathan Quick with a high wrist shot and celebrating with a yell and a fist pump.
Kane's 14th goal of the season broke his three-way tie with American-born players Eddie Olczyk and Phil Kessel, who both had 18-game scoring streaks. The streak is the second-longest in Blackhawks history, tying a streak by Denis Savard 30 years ago.
"You look at the Americans that have played the game and the two guys that are part of that record with Kessel and Olczyk, that's some pretty elite company," Kane said Friday after tying the American record with a late assist against the Anaheim Ducks. "Been a fun little ride here."
Kane has 11 goals and 19 assists during the streak, which began Oct. 17. The three-time Stanley Cup champion also leads the NHL in scoring with 36 points, holding off Dallas teammates Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
Kane has played some of the best hockey of his remarkable career during a season that began under a dark cloud.
On Nov. 5, Buffalo prosecutors announced they wouldn't file criminal charges against Kane after a three-month investigation of an accuser's claim that she was raped at Kane's offseason home in a city suburb. Kane repeatedly said he had done nothing wrong, and the Erie County district attorney claimed that forensic evidence contradicted the claims of the accuser, who eventually said she did not want to press charges.
Kane has been energized while playing largely on a line with new teammates Artem Anisimov and rookie Artemi Panarin, although coach Joel Quenneville still occasionally teams him with captain Jonathan Toews.
Olczyk had points in 18 straight for Toronto from Dec. 1989 to Jan. 1990. Kessel did the same for Boston in late 2008.
The longest scoring streak in Chicago history was Bobby Hull's 21-game string during the 1971-72 season. The Blackhawks host Minnesota on Tuesday night, travel to Ottawa on Thursday night and return home to face Winnipeg on Dec. 6.
"I think in this day and age it's pretty tough to be consistent every night, especially with how smart coaches are line-matching and how good the defense is in this league right now," Kane said. "It's exciting. I don't want to think about it too much, just try and enjoy it."