CHICAGO -- January is often the most brutal month outdoors in Chicago.
For Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, January also has rarely been kind to him indoors.
Kane has played in six 82-game seasons prior to this season, and January has often been the month when his numbers have dipped. He's registered 50 points in 79 games in January over those six seasons.
Kane hasn’t experienced those type of slumps in other months. His numbers have been pretty steady otherwise in the regular season. Over those six full seasons, he had 76 points in 71 games in October, 88 points in 80 games in November, 77 points in 70 games in December, 55 points in 62 games in February, 68 points in 81 games in March and 27 points in 25 games in April.
Kane is aware of the trend, and it’s something he plans to change this January. He was especially bothered by it last season, when he combined for 42 points over 29 games in November and December and only had seven points in 14 games in January.
“Last year it wasn’t a good month for me,” Kane said. “I know I had a hot November and December last year and January kind of dropped off. You got to keep it going for sure. Sometimes those things happen and you learn from them, realize what you did a little bit and put a little focus on playing this month for sure.”
Kane doesn’t appear headed toward another drop, but he can’t find a reason for why they happened before either.
“Just maybe sometimes you have an off month for whatever reason,” Kane said. “I’m not sure. I want to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
Kane’s defense to that will be trying to do what he’s been doing as of late. His play has been on an upward slope since mid-November. After generating 11 points through the first 17 games of the season, he’s had 31 points over his last 22 games.
“I thought he’s been [on an incline] all year long,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s gotten better and better and better. He’s been fine. He’s been really good.”
So far, January has been good to him. He had an assist against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 1 and a goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, giving him two points in two games. With 11 more games in January, Kane will be hoping for similar results.
As for Chicagoans, there doesn't appear to be any warmth in their future. January will be the usual January in Chicago again.