Patrick Kane had his best performance of the 2018 IIHF World Championships in Denmark on Monday, taking part in all three goals for Team USA in a 3-0 win over Germany.
The pregame line rushes suggested that Kane was due for a big performance, skating on a line with Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat on his opposite wing, a grouping that saw just 88 minutes of even-strength ice time together during the 2017-18 NHL season.
DeBrincat and Kane are linemates again today. Murphy is playing on the top pairing with Martinez. pic.twitter.com/Ia0Ddm2y8E
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) May 7, 2018
After a scoreless first period, Kane got Team USA on the scoreboard in the middle of the second period. Just as USA’s two-man advantage on the power play expired, Kane took a pass from Johnny Gaudreau and one-timed it into the net, scoring from an angle that would not be a scoring opportunity for a lot of hockey players:
The first German steps out of the box, but Kane fires the puck home to put @usahockey up 1-0 #USAvsGER #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/b4bsFA3clD
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 7, 2018
And here’s a second look at the goal from an overhead angle:
.@88PKane puts #TeamUSA on the board. #2018MWC 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/w9wN3eKgl4
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 7, 2018
Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan added a second power play goal in the period — with Kane picking up a primary assist — giving Team USA a 2-0 lead after two periods.
In the third period, Kane picked up another primary assist, this time setting up DeBrincat for a goal that put Team USA up by three:
Look familiar, @NHLBlackhawks? pic.twitter.com/zqLbGEUT2x
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 7, 2018
Kane was named USA’s player of the game for this three-point performance, while DeBrincat added an assist for a two-point game. Team USA is now 3-0 in the tournament and faces Latvia on Thursday in its next preliminary game.
After the game, Kane talked about relishing the opportunity to play in this tournament:
Patrick Kane on Worlds: “I wanted to go last year when we lost and I ended up deciding not to go, and I was kind of mad at myself the rest of the summer that I didn’t come. I said if this opportunity came along again I wanted to take advantage of playing for USA.” #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) May 7, 2018
Although Germany didn’t score in the game, one of its players may have picked up some crucial experience in the game. Blackhawks prospect Dominik Kahun, who recently signed with the Hawks, played with one of the NHL’s top young talents:
Also of note for Chicago Blackhawks fans, recent UFA signee Dominik Kahun is seeing a lot of shifts with Leon Draisaitl. Skilled, quick forward who was one of Germany’s top players at the Olympics. Averaged nearly a point per game in the DEL this season.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) May 7, 2018