Blackhawks RW Kane to miss Sunday's game vs. Flames

Jan 4, 2009 - 4:12 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane will miss Sunday's game against the Calgary Flames due to a high ankle sprain.

It will mark the first time that Kane, the No. 1 overall draft selection in 2007, misses a game due to injury. The second-year star initially sprained his ankle Tuesday against Detroit and aggravated the injury in Thursday's Winter Classic against the Red Wings.

"It's not feeling too great right now, so I think I have to rest up and make sure it's better for a better time of the year when I'm needed more," Kane told the Chicago Tribune. "We'll see how it feels and keep going from there. I'm going to do everything I can to get back as soon as I can."

Kane, the Blackhawks' leading scorer, will travel with the team for next Tuesday's road game at Phoenix. But the 20-year-old indicated he could be sidelined for Chicago's entire three-game road trip.

"Hopefully, if you take three or four or a couple of games off, whatever it may be, you're better when you come back," Kane told the Tribune. "I wasn't really myself out there (during the Winter Classic). I didn't feel comfortable."

Kane played just under 18 minutes in Thursday's 6-4 loss at Wrigley Field but failed to register a point. It marked the third straight game that he was held scoreless.

Kane has 16 goals and 25 assists in 35 games this season for the Blackhawks, who owned a nine-game winning streak before losing both contests to the Red Wings this past week.

A Buffalo native, Kane appeared in all 82 games as a rookie last season, scoring 21 goals and 72 points.