Showtime could be sidelined.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, in a three-way tie for top spot in the league in points, left Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers and did not return after getting shoved from behind awkwardly into the boards in the first period.
Kane could now be out of the Chicago lineup but it’s not known for how long. The Blackhawks defeated the Panthers 3-2 in the shootout.
According to multiple reports, Quenneville told reporters Kane “could miss some time” and the club would know more about his status on Wednesday, as per Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago.
Hearing it is a broken collarbone for #Blackhawks' Patrick Kane but that is NOT confirmed.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) February 25, 2015
Another source said #Blackhawks' Patrick Kane will be sidelined more than six weeks and possibly up to 10-plus weeks.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) February 25, 2015
Alex Petrovic received a minor penalty for cross checking on the play.
The loss of Kane for any prolonged period of time could be big for the Blackhawks, who entered this game losers of three in a row and third in the Central Division.
“You can’t replace the guy. You’d be lying if you said you could. He’s just irreplaceable,” Kris Versteeg told Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.
“You get ticked off when the best player in the league gets hit like that. People play a lot of money to watch Patrick Kane play,” added Versteeg.