(AP) - Patrick Kane ended a seven-game goal drought and set up linemate Jonathan Toews' breakaway score in the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Friday night. Defenseman Duncan Keith added his first goal in 30 games to help Chicago take the NHL lead, a point ahead of Detroit. The Blackhawks have won three straight and are 5-0-1 in their last six games. Ray Emery made 18 saves, allowing only Jason Garrison's power-play goal 43 seconds into the third period. The Panthers dropped their eighth straight on the road and slipped to 1-3-3 in their last seven overall. Toews, who leads Chicago with 27 goals, has goals in four straight games and extended his points streak to six games. Kane's goal was his second in 14 games. The game started a little over a half-hour late, at 8:08 p.m., because of snow. The announced attendance at the 20,500-seat United Center was 21,555, but about 2,000 seats remained empty.
(From Peoria Rivermen) - The Texas Stars scored the final four goals of the game to pull away from the Peoria Rivermen 6-2 on Friday night at the Cedar Park Center. The Rivermen fell to 20-18-2-1 with the loss and remain in fourth place in the Midwest Division. Texas outshot Peoria 35-23 and went 2-for-5 on the man advantage while Peoria went 0-for-4. The Rivermen travel to San Antonio to face the Rampage Saturday night.
