From Yahoo Sports' Nicholas J. Cotsonika:

Patrick Kane suffered a broken left collarbone Feb. 24. He had surgery the next day, and the Chicago Blackhawks released a statement quoting a team doctor. “We anticipate a full recovery in approximately 12 weeks,” the doctor said.

Kane was supposed to be out until about May 20 – after the start of the Western Conference final, if the Blackhawks made it that far without him.

Well, Tuesday was May 5.

Still more than two weeks before he was supposed to have made a full recovery, Kane scored the lone goal as the Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild, 1-0, and took a 3-0 lead in their second-round series. He has five goals and six points in his past four games. He has six goals and 11 points in nine playoff games.

The ’Hawks are one win from their third consecutive conference final – and fifth in seven years – not without him but largely because of him.

Continued