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Kane lifts Blackhawks past sluggish Canucks

Mar 3, 2008 - 12:22 AM By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) - It took four tries, but the Chicago Blackhawks finally beat the Vancouver Canucks.

Rookie sensation Patrick Kane scored two goals and added an assist Sunday as the Blackhawks skated to a 4-1 victory over the sluggish Canucks.

Kane, who now has 16 goals and 39 assists this season, is three points ahead of Washington's Nicklas Backstrom in the rookie scoring race.

Chicago (31-28-6) pulled within six points of Vancouver (32-23-10) and Colorado (34-26-6) in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

"I don't think we have beaten these guys all year, so this is a big win," Kane said. "They are one of the teams we are trying to catch. These are a big two points for us."

In the third period, Vancouver's Matt Pettinger leveled Chicago's other rookie star, Jonathan Toews, with a high elbow to the face in the third period. Toews left the ice bleeding and did not return.

According to a Blackhawks spokesman, Toews chipped a tooth and was expected to receive close to 50 stitches for a cut in his mouth. His status for Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Wild is uncertain.

The Blackhawks lost the previous three meetings with the Canucks this season, including a 3-2 shootout defeat in the most recent contest on February 10.

The Canucks lost in regulation for the first time in nine games and remained two points behind sixth-place Calgary in the West.

"The one thing I can say about this team is we come to play and we work hard," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "Tonight, I don't think I can say that. Our actions did not speak well."

Chicago goaltender Patrick Lalime had a quiet afternoon in net as the Blackhawks outshot the Canucks, 28-10. The 10 shots allowed were a season best for the Blackhawks, whose previous low was 14 against Calgary on November 22.

"It would be nice to face that many shots every night," Lalime said. "The key was everyone was committed to play well defensively, and it all starts there."

Chicago grabbed a 1-0 lead with 2:58 left in the first period on recently acquired Andrew Ladd's 11th goal of the season. Ladd scored his second goal for Chicago since he was acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline.

The Blackhawks doubled the advantage on the power play at 4:19 of the second period. Kane took a pass at the top of the right faceoff circle from Jason Williams, moved toward the slot, and using big forward Dustin Byfuglien as a screen, snapped a wrist shot past All-Star goaltender Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks halved the deficit with 1:29 left in the second period when Ryan Kesler's wrist shot beat netminder Patrick Lalime just inside the right post.

Chicago regained its two-goal margin when Patrick Sharp netted his team-leading 32nd of the season at 5:26 of the third, deflecting All-Star defenseman Duncan Keith's slap shot past Luongo.

"I knew Duncan was going to fire the puck hard," Sharp said. "I tried to tip the puck down and it went in. I have been lucky to get my stick on a few shots this year."

Kane scored his 16th goal at 9:24 to cap the scoring.

Twenty-five seconds later, Vigneault pulled Luongo and replaced him with Curtis Sanford.

"Luongo played good," Vancouver's Henrik Sedin said. "We just didn't give him any help today."