The view from Chicago

CSNCHICAGO.COM

Tracey Myers: Emotional Kane leads Hawks to win after grandfather’s death

Patrick Kane pointed skyward after scoring his 26th goal of the season, a salute to his grandfather, Donald, who passed away earlier in the day. On one of his toughest personal days, Kane collected himself to play a great game in memory of one of his “great friends.”

Kane scored two goals and an assist and Corey Crawford stopped 31-of-34 shots as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 at Staples Center on Monday night. It was an understandably emotional outing for Kane, who said he found out right before the game that his grandfather died.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Austin Knoblauch: Hawks’ Kane scores twice in win after grandfather’s death

Talking about Bickell’s goal brought a smile to Kane’s face after the game when he recalled how excited the 6-foot-4 power forward was to score after being a healthy scratch in the Blackhawks’ previous two games.

Bickell’s ninth goal of the season and 100th-career point came off a beautiful cross-ice pass from Kane on a three-on-one rush during the first period, prompting a more jubilant-than-usual celebration from the 6-foot-4, 233-pound left winger.

Before the game, Bickell said it was important for him to rediscover the confidence that made him one of the revelations of last year’s Stanley Cup run.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Mark Potash: Patrick Kane leads Blackhawks over Kings with a heavy heart

Patrick Kane has scored the winning goal of one Stanley Cup Final and has won the Conn Smythe Trophy in another. But he rarely if ever has felt more emotion in a hockey setting than he did Monday night.

Just before the game, Kane learned that his grandfather, Donald Kane of Buffalo, had passed away. Kane scored 62 seconds into the game, added an assist and another goal as the Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 at Staples Center.

Mark Potash: Bryan Bickell scores in return to Blackhawks’ lineup

After sitting out the previous two games and three of the last four as a healthy scratch, Bickell returned to the lineup against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. He immediately responded with a goal on a three-on-one to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead early in the first period before the Hawks earned a 5-3 road win over the Kings.

It’s Quenneville’s latest attempt to spark Bickell, who has struggled to regain the form that made him a force in the run to the 2013 Stanley Cup.

Bickell has seven goals and nine points and is a minus-8 in 40 games. Since scoring in four consecutive games in October, Bickell has scored three goals in his last 25 and is a minus-10 in that span.

THE COMMITTED INDIAN

McClure: Heavy Is The Head That Drinks The Crown – Hawks 5, Kings 3

Even though both the Kings and the Hawks came into the evening careening through some tough stretches since the turn of the calendar year, the game played certainly wasn’t an indicator of some of the things both teams had been struggling with prior to tonight.

For one, the Kings got goals from people not named Anze Kopitar, and even one on the power play courtesy of Drew Doughty. Kopitar would add one of his own in a second period that saw the Kings surge reminiscent of their dominant run of the spring of 2012, but still ended up on the wrong end of a Marcus Kruger deflection to remain down after forty.

SB NATION: SECOND CITY HOCKEY

JenLC: Kane Tops Emotional Day With A Win Over The Kings

Often meetings between the Blackhawks and Kings are sluggish affairs but this game proved to have a bit more pop and even some rather amusing moments. One such moment came when Patrick Kane actually got credited with a hit. The unfortunate recipient of this hit was Tyler Toffoli, who hopefully redeemed himself in the eyes of his teammates with his 3rd period goal. Another strange moment came when the Blackhawks were pressuring in the offensive zone and Quick was giving up rebounds. While down in the splits, Quick made a save with the puck between his legs and Brandon Saad tried to poke the puck through before the whistle sounded. Unfortunately for Quick, the puck and Saad’s stick ended up in a rather sensitive area. Quick was understandably angry over this situation but then decided to show his displeasure by whipping the puck at Saad.

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