Patrick Kane’s 1,000th career point created one big party for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Everyone was invited.
Kane became the 90th player in NHL history to reach the milestone with five minutes, 46 seconds left. The all-star winger passed from behind the net to Ryan Carpenter in the right circle. Carpenter then fed a wide-open Saad at the left side of the net for an easy tap-in before goalie Connor Hellebuyck could slide across the crease.
The 31-year-old Kane got an extended ovation from the crowd of 21,487 and was mobbed by his teammates after extending his point streak to 10 games. Captain Jonathan Toews, who has 799 points himself, checked with the referees before the game to make sure it was all right for the team to take the ice to congratulate Kane after he hit 1,000.
THAT’S 1,000 NHL POINTS FOR PATRICK KANE!<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/1KANE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#1KANE</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/THATSHOCKEYBABY?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#THATSHOCKEYBABY</a> <a href=”https://t.co/dEZZqVSG6a”>pic.twitter.com/dEZZqVSG6a</a>
—@NHLBlackhawks
“That was special,” Kane said. “What a moment. Obviously, everyone coming on the ice and sharing that moment with me. You see some faces in that pile that have been a big part of a lot of those points.
“The team’s rolling right now, too. There’s a lot of good things happening. We’re playing well. Nice to have it come in a win.”
In the midst of the celebration, Saad made sure to pick up the puck for Kane.
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“Kinda felt bad for him,” Kane said. “All the guys on the ice came to me and he was in the corner even though he was the one that scored.”
Saad didn’t mind.
“What can you say? He’s a special player,” Saad said. “It’s been fun to play with him over the years, see his successes and be part of it. It’s pretty neat how the whole team came out and huddled him. It was just a great night.
“We’re playing well, and when you have things like that happen it gives you a boost in excitement.”
Alex Nylander and Erik Gustafsson each had a goal and an assist for Chicago, which has climbed back into the Western Conference playoff race with an 11-4-0 run. David Kampf also scored and rookie Dominik Kubalik added an empty-netter for his 10th goal in his last seven games.
Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine scored for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots in the Jets’ fourth loss in five games.
Robin Lehner made 36 saves for the Blackhawks, who killed six Jets power plays. Four of the man advantages were created by minor penalties on Chicago forward Drake Caggiula.
The Jets were ripped 7-1 by Tampa Bay at home on Friday night, but they regrouped and tested Lehner in this one.
“We were in the slot an awful lot,” coach Paul Maurice said. “If you look at the shot map of that game there’s so much more from the dangerous areas.”