Patrick Kane Breaking Out of Mini-Slump

PHILADELPHIA – Patrick Kane lowered his shoulder as the Chicago Blackhawks winger prepared as well as he could to absorb a check from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger.

"When we have the puck, we're not skating around thinking 'Where's Pronger?'" said Kane, who lost his helmet in the collision along the boards.

Maybe not quite as forceful, but Kane made his own impact in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and he scored his first points the series. His goal 2:50 into the third period gave the Blackhawks the lead, even though it lasted all of 20 seconds before the Flyers tied the game and won it, 4-3, in overtime at Wachovia Center Wednesday night.

"My first game, I thought I was terrible," said Kane, who assisted on Duncan Keith's second-period goal. "My last game I thought I was getting a little bit better and [Wednesday night] I thought I played pretty good. Hopefully, I'll just be getting better throughout the series. Sometimes, if you haven't seen a team for a while, you try to feel them out a little it."

Blackhawks lead series, 2-1
Blackhawks vs. Flyers Series Page

Blackhawks coach Joel Quennville has mixed up his top line over the last couple games for a shift here and there. In Game 2, Ben Eager was sent out in place of Kane with Jonathan Toews at center and Dustin Byfuglien on the opposite wing and Eager scored the eventual game-winner.

But overall, it's been a struggle. While Kane broke through a bit, Toews and Byfuglien enter Friday's Game 4 with one assist each. Toews gave the Flyers's defense only partial credit for holding his line in check for the most part.

"It's always been about us and been about how we need to play better," Toews said. "That doesn't change this series. We played against tough defensive players in the past and it's all about overcoming the obstacles in front of you and finding a way."

Quennville said Toews' line "has gotten better each and every game in the series."

The Blackhawks also haven't taken full advantage of the power plays they've gotten. They were 0-for-3 in Game 3 and 0-for-6 overall in the series.

"I think there are some ideas that we can look at it, maybe with puck possession and [keeping things] simplistic," Quennville said.

Of course, some Blackhawks have hinted that they aren't getting enough chances to go on the power play. The Flyers didn't even take a penalty -- at least none were called -- in Game 1. Asked if he thought the Flyers may be getting away with some penalties, Kane responded, "For sure."

Kane, however, said the Blackhawks remain a tough squad -- plus he could only remember one hit, legal or otherwise, from Game 3.

"It's a hockey game," said Kane, referring to the Pronger collision. "You are going to get hit. To be honest, I think I only got hit big one time last game and that's when my helmet fell off. I kind of initiated the contact to be honest."