Getty Images With Marian Hossa out of the Chicago Blackhawks’ lineup with an upper-body injury, Patrick Kane saw more ice time, getting double-shifted Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks.
It was a battle between the Western Conference-leading Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks, second in the conference but with only three regulation losses all season.
At the end, the Ducks were on the winning side of a 4-2 hockey game, thanks three-goal explosion in the final six minutes of the third period.
The best players needed to be the best players, and Kane didn’t feel he played his way into that category Wednesday.
“I was fine,” Kane told NHL.com, speaking about how he felt with the increase in ice time.
“It will be nice to get a little break here for me and hopefully we can get some injuries resolved and come back with a better game next game. But I could have done better tonight and obviously I wasn’t good enough, and [that's] the reason we lost the game.”
A look at the standings shows the top two teams in the Western Conference are even closer after tonight.
The Blackhawks, thanks to that historical start to the season, are still tops in the West with a 24-3-3 record and 51 points.
The Ducks entered the game five points back of Chicago. They’ll wake up Thursday only three back, and with a record of 22-3-4, and a game in hand.
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Kevin Prendergast (pictured) and longtime NHL netminder Ron Tugnutt were fired.
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AP
“The NHL remains committed to securing the Coyotes’ future in Glendale under new ownership, and we believe Don’s long-term agreement evidences that he is equally committed,” said the deputy commish.
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McLellan: Burish ‘very close,’ could be in Sharks lineup for Game 6
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He’s missed the entire series with a broken hand.
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Craig MacTavish has a few things he’d like in return.
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AP
“Hopefully, we’ll find that chemistry,” says Spezza.
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Preds continue to shake up staff, fire head athletic trainer
May 24, 2013, 3:14 PM EDT
Just a few days after turfing assistant coach Peter Horachek.
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Aside from, you know, facing elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Chin up, rookie.
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Say hello to Curtis McElhinney.
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AP
Torts not expected to make any lineup changes.
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Rangers’ blueliner saw plenty of action in Game 4, though.
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Lightning say Lacroix won’t return as assistant coach next season
May 24, 2013, 1:12 PM EDT
He was Guy Boucher’s right-hand man, so no huge surprise.
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Pens’ Dupuis on Alfredsson remarks: I don’t see Crosby talking like that
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The postgame comment that just won’t go away.
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AP
The Red Wings’ star may go back to Russia after next season.
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Back in Vegas next year.
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Rare criticism for the Blackhawks’ captain.
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SKA Saint Petersburg would be the club.
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AP
“(He’s) a hell of a hockey player.”
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He’s excited about the Avalanche’s future, but he also has other considerations.
