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All about the Kanes in Chicago Blackhawks' 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg Jets

Saturday, 02.07.2015 / 2:25 AM / News

The Canadian Press

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All about the Kanes in Chicago Blackhawks' 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg Jets

WINNIPEG - It was all about the Kanes in Winnipeg on Friday night.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for the Chicago Blackhawks, while Evander Kane may have written the final chapter of his time with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Chicago winger tied the game in the second period and set up Brandon Saad for the overtime winner as the Blackhawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Jets.

"The puck found a way to me right in front and it was an easy tap," Saad said of his 16th goal of the season. "My eyes opened pretty big there. I was pretty excited to get that puck."

Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets (26-18-10), who have spent the last four days dealing with the controversy surrounding forward Evander Kane.

Kane was a healthy scratch in Vancouver on Tuesday night, reportedly for showing up to a team meeting in a track suit. It was also reported that teammate Dustin Byfuglien threw Kane's clothes into a shower, and that Kane didn't show up at the arena in time for the game. Earlier on Friday, the team announced that Kane would have season-ending shoulder surgery to fix an injury he had been playing with for some time.

"He had an injury to take care of and he did it," Byfuglien said. "Whoever is putting the jersey on, we have to stick together and it sucks to see a guy go like that but we've got to worry about our games."

Asked if there was any sort of incident in Vancouver, Byfuglien responded: "I have no clue."

The Jets' troubles weren't limited to the Kane saga this week. The team is on a 0-4-2 skid since the all-star break. With Kane out and options limited at forward, coach Paul Maurice moved Byfuglien, an all-star defenceman, back to the wing, where he started the season.

Daniel Carcillo returned to the Blackhawks (32-18-2) lineup after serving a six-game suspension for a cross-check on Jets forward Mathieu Perrault on Jan. 16. It took only 67 seconds for Carcillo to drop the gloves with Winnipeg's Chris Thorburn. Jets forward Anthony Peluso attempted to fight Carcillo in the second period, but the Chicago winger didn't oblige.

Corey Crawford, who stopped 20 of 21 shots for Chicago, said the game had a playoff feel.

"They just play that type of game," Crawford said. "Everyone on their side plays hard, they play physical and it just seems like there's no room. They just run all over the ice."

Michael Hutchinson made 20 saves on 22 shots for the Jets. Hutchinson is now 3-0-1 against Chicago this season with a .961 save percentage.

Scheifele opened the scoring 4:17 into the first period, forcing a David Rundblad turnover on the forecheck and beating Crawford to the top corner.

"I thought there was a lot of good things. I thought we were back to our physicality," Scheifele said.

Patrick Kane tied the game 2:50 into the second period when he broke in alone, went to his backhand and roofed it over a sprawling Hutchinson for his 26th goal of the season. It was Chicago's first goal in 149 minutes and 25 seconds.

"It was nice to get that first one, especially when you haven't scored in a couple of games," he said.

Notes: The Blackhawks were shut out in their previous two games, the first time that has happened since a three-game drought in October 2006. … Jets forward Patrice Cormier, who was recalled from St. John's on Thursday after Kane was placed on the injured reserve, didn't play.

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