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 Hours earlier, Kane ripped a power-play goal to increase his point
streak to 25 games. Kane's goal capped the scoring in the
Blackhawks' 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.
"It's not even surprising anymore," Toews said. "It's like you're
just wondering when he's going to score. He's automatic. He gets his
chance, and he buries it. He makes no mistake."
The rest of the Blackhawks followed Kane's mistake-free lead.
Chicago (16-10-4) posted its third win in the past four games and
improved to 11-3-1 on home ice.
Goaltender Corey Crawford stopped all 25 shots he faced to collect
his third shutout of the season and the 15th of his career. Toews
also scored on the power play for the Blackhawks.
"I thought it was a good response," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville
said. "Scoring early and getting a power-play goal right off the bat
certainly put us in a good spot. I thought we continued on and did a
lot of good things. Our special teams were excellent tonight."
Winnipeg (14-14-2) lost to Chicago at the United Center for the
second time in six days. The Jets were shut out for the third time
this season.
Jets right winger Blake Wheeler said it was difficult for him and
his teammates to find open ice.
"Their sticks are probably as good as it gets in the league,"
Wheeler said. "They're not a very physical team, but they skate so
well and their sticks are so strong that you think you have maybe
more than you do, and then they knock it down and go the other way."
When Winnipeg did have chances, Crawford was ready. He stopped seven
shots in the first period, five in the second period and 13 in the
third period as the Jets grew more desperate to score.
"I'm seeing the puck well," said Crawford, who improved to 14-7-2 on
the season. "I'm not really thinking out there. I'm just going out
and playing hard."
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 29 of 31 shots. He
drew his first NHL loss after going 4-0-0 with a 1.71 goals-against
average to start his career.
Chicago opened the scoring on a power-play goal by Toews with 15:26
to go in the first period. Toews crashed toward the net and punched
in a rebound with a backhand shot for his ninth goal.
Kane increased the Blackhawks' lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal with
9:24 remaining in the second period. Left winger Teuvo Teravainen
fired a cross-ice pass to Kane, who ripped a rising shot above
Hellebuyck's right shoulder for his sixth goal in the past seven
games.
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A sellout crowd of 22,021 roared for Kane, who has 16 goals and 23
assists during his 25-game point streak. Kane matched Pittsburgh
Penguins center Sidney Crosby for the longest point streak of the
past decade and neared the halfway mark of Wayne Gretzky's NHL
record of 51 games.
"It's one of those things when you realize what elite company you're
in," Kane said. "When you're with these great players that have had
these great streaks, it definitely humbles you. I obviously feel
honored and very fortunate to be involved with names like those.
It's something I'm trying not to think about too much."
Chicago finished 2 of 5 on the power play. Winnipeg was 0 of 5 on
the man-advantage.
The Jets had an opportunity for a power-play goal late in the first
period, but right winger Marian Hossa stripped the puck from
defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and raced down the ice to draw a hooking
penalty against Byfuglien.
Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said his players needed to be more
active on special teams. The Jets entered the game ranked No. 26 in
the NHL with a 16.3 percent success rate on the power play.
"Half of it is just quickness," Maurice said. "Move the puck a
little quicker. That's the stuff that we can fix."
NOTES: Blackhawks D Trevor Daley returned to the lineup after
missing two games because of an upper-body injury. Daley, 32, was
injured Sunday when he collided with Winnipeg LW Chris Thorburn. ...
Jets D Adam Pardy was a healthy scratch for the fifth consecutive
game. ... The Blackhawks reassigned RW Marko Dano to the Rockford
IceHogs of the AHL before Friday's game. Dano, 21, recorded one goal
and one assist in 13 games with Chicago. ... Jets LW Andrew Ladd
appeared in his 400th game with the franchise on Friday. Ladd is the
eighth player in franchise history to reach the milestone. ...
Blackhawks LW Ryan Garbutt and D Michal Rozsival were healthy
scratches.
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