Richard Panik broke a long drought. Patrick Kane broke two career highs. The Blackhawks broke in the second half of their season with an 8-2 victory Tuesday night over the Senators.
Panik had gone 27 games and more than 21/2 months without goal after starting the season on the top line and recording three goals and two assists in the first three games.
On Tuesday morning, after the team’s morning skate, Panik predicted the forgettable streak would end sometime.
That sometime was Tuesday night.
The forward scored with 1 minute, 59 seconds left in the first period, his first goal since Oct. 21, and his first five-on-five score since the second game of the season.
“Eventually something is going to go in, and I think that’s going to be the breaking point,” Panik said. “From there, it’s going to be good.”
From there, a lot of other Blackhawks (21-15-6) were good, too.
Panik’s goal preceded a points parade for Kane, who had four assists during a five-goal second period. He added a goal for good measure in the third period, after Nick Schmaltz clanged what would have been his third goal off the post. It was the first five-point contest of Kane’s career and the first time he had four assists in one game.
Schmaltz scored twice during the second period, and Patrick Sharp (third goal in four games), Jonathan Toews and Jan Rutta joined him in that category on the stat sheet. Toews added another in the third, giving him five goals in his last five games.
“When you see a guy like that score, just the relief and the feeling you can see on his face, everyone rallied around him in the locker room,” Toews said of Panik. “Everyone fed off that. Nice for us to follow up with a good second period.”
The Hawks scored four power-play goals to support goalie Anton Forsberg, who made 25 saves in his second straight start since he sat out four games in a row in favor of Jeff Glass.
Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina
Paul Skrbina’s three stars
1. Patrick Kane, Hawks: Four assists, five points, two career highs.
2. Nick Schmaltz, Hawks: Nearly a hat trick; also had an assist.
3. Jonathan Toews, Hawks: Two goals gives him five in last five games.
Up next: Vs. Wild, 7 p.m. Wednesday, NBCSN, WGN-AM 720.
Brent Seabrook a healthy scratch for Blackhawks against Senators »
Nick Schmaltz in the middle of Blackhawks’ second-line success »
Wednesday’s matchup: Wild at Blackhawks »