Winless in the pre-season, Habs drop 5-1 decision to Blackhawks

MONTREAL -- Chicago's Kyle Baun Jersey scored twice and added an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks downed the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in NHL pre-season action on Friday night at the Bell Centre.

Ryan Garbutt, Garrett Ross and Jan Hejda also scored for the Blackhawks (2-1-0).

Zack Kassian scored for the Canadiens (0-1-2) in his second game with the team since being traded in the off-season.

The game was Montreal's second in three nights. The Habs lost 4-3 in a shootout versus the Washington Capitals on Thursday and will take on the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday.

Down 3-0, Kassian gave the Habs hope when his backhand shot beat goalie Scott Darling 25 seconds into the second period, but that was the only offence the home side could muster on the night.

The Blackhawks were without Patrick Kane, who's the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Kane has been accused of sexual assault but has not been charged in an alleged incident dating back to August.

Lawyer for woman in Patrick Kane case suddenly quits

BUFFALO — The lawyer for a woman accusing Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys star Patrick Kane of sexual assault abruptly quit the case Thursday night, saying he’s no longer comfortable representing the woman because of how her mother reported finding an evidence bag they believed once held the woman’s rape kit.

Thomas Eoannou told reporters he believes there were, what he called, ‘‘fabrications’’ in the story of how the bag was found. And he added that he’s no longer sure if the bag ever contained evidence from the investigation.

‘‘I can only say that I don’t know what’s true and what’s not true,’’ Eoannou said during a hastily called news conference at his downtown Buffalo law office. ‘‘I received the story line from the mother. And it’s my position that I'm not comfortable with that version of the events.’’

Despite his concerns, Eoannou said he’s still confident in the woman’s allegations against Kane.

‘‘I don’t know how that reflects, and I don’t think it does, on the night in question,’’ Eoannou said.

The woman’s mother declined an interview request, and instead referred to a statement the family released to the media.

Cam Cole: NHL tainted as Kane case grows even uglier

First of all, you can’t blame the fans, most of them Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys fans, who have bombarded social media with often obscene comments amounting to “lay off Patrick Kane.”

Even those cretins who were high-fiving Wednesday when it was revealed that the evidence bag that had once contained the rape kit in the case against the Hawks’ star winger had been delivered anonymously Tuesday afternoon to the home of his accuser’s mother.

As appalling as that revelation may be — hinting at misconduct or incompetence by either the Hamburg, N.Y., police or the District Attorney’s office, or bribery, or just some well-meaning or malicious person intentionally corrupting the evidentiary chain of custody — no doubt the true believers see it as manna from the hockey gods.

We know that fans, at a certain level of blind devotion, are not rational people, that they will forgive their idols any transgression — performance-enhancing drugs, domestic violence, even murder — because the worst of them consider moral depravity a fair exchange for championships.

That, or they just won’t believe their heroes could possibly be guilty, so they voluntarily suspend their critical faculties, if they ever had any.

But the Chicago Blackhawks are supposed to be better than that. The National Hockey League is supposed to be better than that.

Sure, when it comes right down it, we often suspect they have no higher purpose than to sell tickets and hype TV ratings, but the illusion of caring, responsible citizens is important to the image they are peddling. So at some point, you might suppose, someone in the public relations end of either operation might say: “Uh, boss, don’t you think this is making us look a little … callous? I mean, what about the victim, just supposing the accuser isn’t lying?”

Veteran Tomas Kopecky trying to latch on — again — with Blackhawks

Tomas Kopecky Jersey never wanted to leave in the first place.

So when it came to choosing the team with which he would sign a tryout agreement in the hopes of extending his NHL career, the veteran forward came back to the Blackhawks.

At 33, Kopecky is in training camp trying to latch on with the franchise he helped win the 2010 Stanley Cup and a season later set career highs in goals and points. Following the 2010-11 season, during which he had 15 goals and 27 assists, the Hawks traded the rights to the soon-to-be free agent to the Panthers, with whom Kopecky signed and spent the last four seasons.

While South Florida was nice, leaving the bulk of the group that brought the Hawks their first championship in 49 years was difficult.

"I wanted to stay here in Chicago, but it's a business," said Kopecky, who has 68 goals and 106 assist in 578 career games. "I've kind of learned that along the way. I chose to come back here because this is one of the top organizations and it's a winning organization. That's what I want to do. I want to win.

"It's awesome to see all the familiar faces and a couple of young kids too. I'm really appreciative for getting a tryout. We'll see what happens."

With the roster in flux after an offseason of radical change, Kopecky is vying for a spot on a Hawks team that could have use for a hard-nosed, experienced player who can slot into any forward position and provide net-front presence on the power play and kill penalties.

The two-time Cup winner — he won his first with the 2008 Red Wings — described his game as "kind of gritty, get in front of the net and get into people's faces and agitating — whatever it takes."

Helping Kopecky's bid is the familiarity he shares with Joel Quenneville and his coaching staff.

Rape kit tests find no DNA evidence from Blackhawks' Patrick Kane

Tests from a rape kit lack DNA evidence from Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane Jersey to confirm a woman's allegations against him, the Buffalo News reported.

Four sources familiar with the case told the newspaper Saturday that there is no DNA evidence in the accuser's genital area or her undergarments.

Kane, 26, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in August at his offseason home near Buffalo, N.Y. He has not been charged in the case. The Erie County district attorney's office delayed grand jury proceedings recently.

Kane addressed his ongoing legal issues Thursday when he reported to the team's training camp at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

"This has been an incredibly difficult time for many people," Kane said in his first public comments since police began investigating the allegations. "I cannot apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, my teammates, this incredible organization and, of course, our fans. While I have too much respect for the legal process to comment on an ongoing matter, I am confident that once all the facts are brought to light, I will be absolved of having done nothing wrong."

Sources told the Buffalo News that Kane's DNA was found on the accuser's fingernails and shoulders, but those sources said the DNA evidence could have occurred from casual contact.

Sources told the newspaper that settlement talks were ongoing between the two sides, but Kane's attorney, Paul Cambria, had previously denied any settlement talks.

Kane has helped lead the Blackhawks Hoodie three Stanley Cup championships in the past six seasons and has scored 205 goals in eight NHL seasons. He signed an eight-year, $84 million contract extension in 2014.