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Rookies Kane, Toews lead Blackhawks against Maple Leafs

Oct 20, 2007 - 2:39 PM Chicago (4-3-0) at Toronto (3-3-2) 7:00 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- After struggling offensively last season, the Chicago Blackhawks appear to have solved their scoring woes thanks to a pair of rookies.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will try to keep putting the puck in the net when the Blackhawks take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

After scoring just 201 goals last season, a total that was tied for 28th in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks have shown a much more dynamic attack this season.

On Friday, Chicago broke out for five tallies against the Colorado Avalanche.

Kane, who was selected first overall by Chicago in June's NHL draft, scored his first career goal while adding two assists en route to the 5-3 victory over the Avalanche. The 18-year-old right wing leads the team with seven points this season.

Toews, meanwhile, has registered two goals and three assists in five games this season. After being selected in the first round of the 2006 draft, the 19-year-old center anchors the Blackhawks' second line along with Kane and another first-round selection, Tuomo Ruutu, who was selected ninth overall in 2001.

While Kane and Toews provide the offense, goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has anchored the defense from the crease this season.

Khabibulin made 37 saves against Colorado on Friday, moving to 3-3-0 this season with a 2.32 goals-against average. The 34-year-old Russian will try to use the momentum he has built this season when he faces the Maple Leafs in Toronto, a place where he has lost each of his last six outings with the last coming in 2003.

Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin has given Khabibulin and the Blackhawks plenty of trouble over his career, logging 20 goals and 20 assists in 43 lifetime games against Chicago.

This is the only regular-season meeting scheduled between these two teams which are both part of the NHL's "Original Six".