Patrick Kanes moves keep drawing attention.
Earlier this season, the Blackhawks forwards spin-o-rama pass on a Marian Hossa goal was highlight-reel material. And on Wednesday night he added another clip to the on-ice resume.
Kanes slow-motionand we mean really slow-motionshootout goal has been a replay staple since he did it to end the Blackhawks 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. The irony is the shot wasnt even the game-winnerthat was Jonathan Toews. But Kanes, in which he did 14 stick handles before shooting, is the one garnering the talk and second and third looks.
I tried it a few times in practice. We were in a good position to win so I thought Id try it (on Wednesday), Kane said. Its always nice to change it up, try some new moves. You see guys slow down and go real slow before; I probably took it to another level there with slow.
Even coach Joel Quenneville was impressed.
I said, Sick when I saw it. It was an amazing play, he said. We talk about going with speed and then making a move and he did just the opposite. So theres a certain trickery that skill players have, and that patience that he showed was pretty remarkable.
Blackhawks forward Jamal Mayers said he saw Kanes shootout move once before; former San Jose Sharks teammate Dan Boyle did it last season. And it worked for Boyle, too.
NHL
It really confuses the goalie because you can stick handle and they have to go down at some point, he said. Its pretty to watch.
Viktor Stalberg agreed.
That was pretty crazy, said Stalberg. It was definitely a special move and in that situation he was in, too, it was great to see. All the boys loved that, for sure.
Just add it to the guys highlight reel.
I think thats a unique ability of top scorers or players to have a little bit of an idea of what theyre going to do and, depending on what they see quickly, do what theyve got to do, Quenneville said. Thats what makes him special.