It was one fluke moment that could change the top of the playoff race in the Western Conference. Florida’s Alex Petrovic was called for a crosscheck on the hit that sent Patrick Kane into the boards, and Chicago Blackhawks fans into full panic mode, although replays suggest it wasn’t as egregious as that.

Regardless, it’s a hit that Blackhawks fans won’t forget for a while.

Chicago reporters have become experts at reading the tea leaves when it comes to interpreting Joel Quenneville’s postgame comments, so when Quenneville was already ready to concede that Kane would miss “some time,” as reported by ESPN Chicago’s Scott Powers and others, it doesn’t bode well for hopes that he will return to the ice quickly.

As of Wednesday morning, the report from Powers is that Kane will miss six to 10 weeks, and it certainly changes the landscape of the trade deadline for GM Stan Bowman.

First and foremost, it creates a hole in the lineup that is irreplaceable.