The sweater may be different, but one didn’t even have to look at the name on the back to spot Patrick Kane on the Prudential Center ice in New Jersey.
Kane, who was traded to the Rangers at the deadline this season, netted his first playoff goal in the red, white, and blue Thursday night. As the Rangers secured a 5-1 win over the Devils to take a 2-0 lead in Round 1, Kane tallied three points – one goal and two assists.
It was clear to see that Kane was putting on a vintage performance for New York Thursday. The show he put on was all too familiar to Blackhawks fans, who had enjoyed his greatness for 15 seasons. Even if he hadn’t had an impressive impact in the scoring column, anyone who had seen Kane in the past could see glimpses of his peak years with the Blackhawks. The way he stickhandled was seemingly effortless, and he played with the touch and vision that Chicago fans adored for all those years.
A Pleasant Surprise
His spectacular play was a welcome surprise for Rangers fans that had seemingly been waiting for Kane to break out. In his 19 regular-season games in New York, he recorded five goals and seven assists. While those numbers are more than respectable, great even, for most players, the team had hoped for a bit more of a season-altering impact for the player they anticipated coming in. So far, it hadn’t seemed Kane had been acclimated to his new squad yet. He was playing more passively, not making the plays that Blackhawks fans knew he could.
Outlook
Could Thursday’s game be a sign of what’s to come for Kaner? If he’s back to his former self, a string of solid performances could have multiple positive impacts. For starters, it would help the Rangers in their push for Lord Stanley. With a two-game lead in the series, they could walk into the second round, inching Kane closer to another Cup. Additionally, he’s an unrestricted free agent after this season. It’s unclear what the future holds for him. If he intends to surprise everyone and hang up his skates at age 34, he’ll want to finish strong to complete his storybook ending. Otherwise, he’ll want to prove he’s still got it on a team besides the Blackhawks. Whether he resigns with the Rangers or goes to another team, he could secure himself one more big payday with his play in this year’s postseason.
Kaner’s success is a gift to Blackhawks fans everywhere. For a fanbase that doesn’t get to cheer for their own franchise in this year’s playoffs, and probably doesn’t have a playoff team to root for for at least another year or two, it’s great to be able to support a former Blackhawk, especially one as prominent in Chicago history as Patrick Kane. As Kane returns to his former self and pushes for a Stanley Cup, it’s safe to say we’re all temporary Rangers fans.
