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Kane Leads Blackhawks To 3-2 Shootout Win Over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Patrick Kane celebrated his Buffalo homecoming by scoring the tying goal in the final minute and then adding the lone shootout goal in leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 win over the Sabres on Saturday.

With boos raining from the stands as Kane prepared to take his shootout chance, the Blackhawks forward sped up the middle, came to a near full stop and then faked a forehand shot before flipping a backhand into the right side past goalie Chad Johnson.

Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford then sealed the win by stopping Zemgus Girgensons on the Sabres third and final shootout attempt.

It was an eventful finish to a game in which Kane tied it with 34 seconds left while the Blackhawks enjoyed a 6-on-3 advantage.

Buffalo defensemen Josh Gorges (tripping) and Rasmus Ristolainen (high sticking) were both in the penalty box and the Chicago pulled Crawford for an extra attacker.

There was a second left in the Blackhawks' power play when Kane scored by converting Artemi Panarin's pass through the crease into the open right side.

Dennis Rasmussen also scored for Chicago, which improved to 6-2 in its past eight.

Ryan O'Reilly and Cody Franson scored for Buffalo, which is 0-7-1 in its past eight games against Chicago. The Sabres haven't defeated the Blackhawks since a 2-1 win at Buffalo on Dec. 11, 2009.

Kane's goal was his 20th of the season and gave him points in two straight after he had a franchise-record 26-game point streak end in a 3-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday.

Kane has been the focus of attention on and off the ice for much of the past 4½ months.

It began in early August when a woman in her 20s alleged she was raped by Kane at the player's offseason home in suburban Buffalo. The three-month investigation took several unusual twists before Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita elected to not file charges against Kane because of a lack of credible evidence in a case "rife with reasonable doubt."

Kane was placed under intense scrutiny during the investigation. And both the Blackhawks and NHL were criticized for allowing the player to report to training camp in September while still under investigation.

Kane overcame the distractions and quickly re-established himself as one of the league's top scorers.

Starting on Oct. 17, he enjoyed a franchise-record 26-game point streak. Kane had 16 goals and 24 assists during what became the NHL's longest point streak since 1992-93.

"What he was going through, it's very remarkable," coach Joel Quenneville said before the game, referring to Kane's focus. "I commend him on how he's handled the whole situation coming into the season. "His mind was in the right place, focused, game in, game out."

Kane grew up in south Buffalo and his family still lives in town. The Blackhawks selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft.

A cheer went up when Kane was announced as part of the Blackhawks' starting lineup. However, there were several notable boos that went up during the game each time he had the puck, including on Kane's first shift while driving through the neutral zone.

Kane was the last Blackhawks' player to leave the ice following the pre-game skate. On his way off the ice, Kane flipped a puck over the glass into a large crowd of clapping and cheering Blackhawks jersey-wearing fans gathered around the Chicago bench.

Scott Stedman, who was wearing a green-colored Kane jersey, was surprised to hear some fans booing Kane.

"I was expecting more cheers," said Stedman, who is from nearby Rochester. "He's a hometown hero, USA star."

NOTES: Blackhawks C Phillip Danault made his season debut a day after being called up from AHL Rockford. He replaces Marcus Kruger, who is expected to miss four months after disclocating his left wrist in a 4-0 win over Edmonton on Thursday. ... After playing their ninth game in 16 days, the Sabres enter an extended break. They're off until traveling to play Boston on Saturday. ... Sabres C Tyler Ennis returned after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury. Cal O'Reilly was demoted to AHL Rochester.

(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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