Blackhawks' Kane looks to extend point streak to 20

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane will try to become the first player in five years to have a point in 20 straight games when the Blackhawks play the Minnesota Wild at United Center on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CSN-CH).

"It's in the back of your mind for sure," Kane said of his streak. "I was probably thinking about it a little bit more probably five games ago than I am right now. But I think the way to go about it is to not worry about it and just play your game. If you keep the streak alive, it stays alive. If not, then it's been a pretty good run."

Kane has 11 goals and 20 assists during his streak, which began Oct. 17 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a goal in seven straight games from Nov. 2-15.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player with points in 20 straight games was Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had a 25-game streak from Nov. 5 to Dec. 28, 2010. Crosby had 26 goals and 24 assists during his streak.

The NHL record for consecutive games with a point is held by Wayne Gretzky, who had a 51-game streak at the start of the 1983-84 season. Gretzky had 61 goals and 92 assists during his streak.

Kane's first-period goal Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings gave him the record for most consecutive games with a point by an American-born player at 19.

His goal, which came 11:10 into the game, broke a tie with Eddie Olczyk (Toronto Maple Leafs, 1989-90) and Phil Kessel (Boston Bruins, 2008-09), who each had points in 18 straight games. Kane later had an assist on Niklas Hjalmarsson's goal in the second period.

Kane is two games shy of tying the Blackhawks record 21-game point streak set by Bobby Hull (1971-72). He leads the NHL in points (37) and assists (23) and is tied for second in goals (14).

The streak almost ended at 17 games Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, but Kane assisted on Duncan Keith's goal with 27 seconds remaining in the third period of a 3-2 overtime win.

"It's amazing to watch," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Saturday. "Pretty amazing how he's game-in, game-out, shift-in, shift-out, what he's been doing with the puck, generating, creating. That line, offensively for us, has been the backbone of our team. He's been great. Can't say enough positive things about him."