Kane recalls Taylor Swift nearly costing Blackhawks

Taylor Swift once caused Patrick Kane to almost give up a goal -- and got him in hot water -- when the Chicago Blackhawks played the Nashville Predators during Kane's rookie season.

Former Blackhawks coach Denis Savard relayed what happened on Feb. 14, 2008 at Bridgestone Arena at last weekend's fan convention.

"I've got a story for you guys about backchecking and not covering your man in your own zone," Savard started off in a video posted by CSN Chicago. "You ready for this one. ...

"A defenseman in his own zone goes around Kaner, ends up getting a goal, they score. We still won the game 6-1. I come back to the bench, I tell Kaner, I said, 'Hey.' He says, 'What?' I said, 'You must have been looking at those two blondes while the guy went by you.'"

Afterward, Kane was late getting on the team bus.

"So after the game, I walk out, trainers are telling me, 'Everybody is on the bus Savvy, ready to go,' 'OK good,'" Savard said. "Kaner, talking to two little blondes. I go, 'Hey!' and I yell at him because that's a rule, rules are rules, you've gotta respect them, which he does, but he had a good game, figured it's OK, y'know ...

"We get home, he doesn't say nothing cause he knows I'm mad somewhat. The next day in my office (knocks on table), 'Good morning.' He says, 'Good morning. Savvy,' he says, 'Y'know last night after the game ... you know who the two girls were?' I say, 'I have no idea.' He says, 'One of 'em was Taylor Swift.'

"So I got no idea who she is either, by the way, even when he said Taylor Swift. I get home, I ask my wife, I said, 'Hey honey, who's Taylor Swift?'"

Swift also was just starting her career, about to release her second album later that year.

Truth be told, Kane had two assists in that Valentine's Day game, and was not on the ice when Nashville scored on a power play, according to the official summary. CSN Chicago said the play in question almost led to a goal, but Patrick Lalime made the save.

"That was a long time ago," Kane said. "... I think I had three assists that game ... so I'm feeling pretty good about myself, and like Savvy said, I lost my D-man in the defensive zone, they scored, 6-1 ... next commercial break or whatever, I'm just kind of like hangin' out on the boards and not really thinking anything, just, y'know, enjoying my time on the ice, enjoying my game, and he starts yelling at me, and I'm like, 'This guy's nuts for yelling at me.'

"Then he's like 'Where'd your D-man go?! Were you staring at her the whole shift?!' because they were right behind the bench.

"So the story's right on cue; it's true, really no exaggeration to it. That's exactly how I remember it. It's funny that we remember that stuff."