|
 "I never really saw him play, so I didn't know what to expect," Kane
said. "But it's been a pleasure and a treat to play with him.
Hopefully, we can find that chemistry that gets better and better as
the year goes on."
That could be bad news for the rest of the NHL.
Panarin tallied two goals and an assist, and his linemate Kane
notched a goal and three assists to lift the Blackhawks to a 4-2 win
over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night. Center Artem Anisimov also
scored for Chicago (8-6-1), which improved to 7-1-1 on home ice.
Kane increased his point streak to 10 games, which is the longest
active streak in the NHL. But the bulk of the postgame praise
belonged to Panarin, who recorded his first career multi-goal game.
The 24-year-old Russian became the first Blackhawks rookie to score
twice in a first period since Jonathan Toews in 2008.
Panarin leads all NHL rookies with 11 assists and 15 points in 15
games.
"It feels good," Panarin said via a translator. "I kind of relaxed
and trusted myself, and I started scoring."
Right winger Jordan Eberle and defenseman Andrej Sekera scored for
Edmonton. The Oilers (5-10-0) lost for the sixth time in the past
eight games.
Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said a slow start cost his team. The
Oilers fell behind 2-0 during a sloppy first period before
strengthening to outshoot Chicago 22-6 in the second period.
"It seems like with our team right now, we have to get the garbage
out or fall behind and play from there," McLellan said. "Some of
that has to do with our belief system. We've got to believe that we
can play against these types of teams. We fall behind, and then
we've got nothing to lose, so we go out and we play hard. But that
has to happen right off the bat, and I think that's mental."
Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 34 of 36 shots to improve
to 7-4-1.
Edmonton goaltender Cam Talbot turned aside 24 of 28 shots.
Panarin opened the scoring on the Blackhawks' first shot on goal 58
seconds into the game. Kane slid a pass to the rookie, who ripped a
one-timer off Talbot's right shoulder and into the net.
Panarin scored again to increase Chicago's lead to 2-0 with 2:25
left in the first period. He carried the puck across center ice and
into the offensive zone, where he fired a rising wrist shot past
Talbot's glove side.
"The more he gets experience and the more he gets confidence, we're
only going to see his game grow," Kane said. "It's scary to see
where that could be."
[to top of second column] |
Edmonton sliced the deficit to 2-1 on Eberle's first goal of the
season with 17:04 to go in the third period. Crawford stopped a
wrist shot from the right circle by center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but
the rebound kicked to Eberle for a one-timer from the left of the
crease.
Kane put Chicago ahead 3-1 with 6:32 remaining in the third period.
He took a pass from Anisimov and flipped in a backhand shot for his
fourth goal in as many games and his 10th of the season.
The Oilers pulled within 2-1 on a slap shot by Sekera with 1:51
remaining in the third period. McLellan pulled Talbot in favor of an
extra skater, and Sekera delivered with his first goal of the
season.
Anisimov capped the scoring with 5.1 seconds remaining in the game.
Edmonton dropped to 1-6-0 this season when allowing the opposing
team to score first.
"We know that these guys come out hard in their own building,"
Nugent-Hopkins said. "We really bounced back in the second (period).
I think if we scored in the second, it would have been a little
different. Gives us a little more life. I still think we came out
hard in the third, but a goal in the second would have put us back
in the game."
NOTES: Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa returned to the lineup after
missing the previous three games with a lower-body injury. ...
Oilers D Mark Fayne played alongside D Oscar Klefbom after sitting
out the previous three games as a healthy scratch. ... Blackhawks D
Duncan Keith (knee) participated in the Sunday morning skate but
missed his ninth consecutive game. Keith is eligible to come off
long-term injured reserve Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. ...
Oilers C Connor McDavid missed his second straight game because of a
broken clavicle. ... Blackhawks LW Ryan Garbutt and D David Rundblad
were scratched. ... Oilers D Andrew Ference, LW Luke Gazdic and C
Matt Hendricks were scratched.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
