One way the Blackhawks can get going is by igniting Patrick Kane’s production again.
Since Colliton’s arrival, Kane has two goals in 13 games and just one goal in the past 12 games. Kane has nine assists and 11 points in those 13 games, so it’s not like he’s gone completely cold. It’s just that his 5-on-5 play has declined, and this team needs him to score goals.
In 5-on-5 play, there are a few notable differences between how Kane started the season and what he’s been doing lately. In his first 15 games, he was averaging 11.39 shots on goal per 60 minutes in 5-on-5 play. With all those opportunities, he scored six goals. In the past 13 games, he’s averaging 5.79 shots on goal per 60 minutes and has scored twice in 5-on-5 play.
It’s not about ice time for Kane. He’s averaging 17:32 of 5-on-5 ice under Colliton. It seems to be more about linemates, and Colliton has been trying him with a variety of them lately. Kane was with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome for two games and then David Kampf and Dominik Kahun Sunday against Calgary. He had a total of two shots on goal in those three games.
Kane’s best goal-scoring rates this season have come when he’s played with Artem Anisimov and Brandon Saad, so it might be a line that Colliton considers. Kane scored 0.43 goals per 60 minutes with Jonathan Toews — meaning it might be best to stay away from that combination.
Regardless of who he’s with, Kane believes he can do more.
“Obviously production has been pretty light lately,” Kane said after practice on Tuesday. “It’s been pretty frustrating. Just trying to figure that out, trying to learn from what you can do better, but also go into every game and kind of as a new challenge, wipe the slate clean and try to be better that night. I think we’ve been losing here a little bit, and then when you’re not producing, it definitely weighs on you a little bit. Hopefully try to find some production here within playing the team game.”
Colliton is also aware of that.
“We’re looking for the right formula,” Colliton said. “He’s always been a guy who’s moved around a little bit. It would be nice to get some continuity, and certainly he’s continued to produce, but you want him to be able to do more and I think he can do more.”