By Craig Custance

updated 3:15 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2008

BENSENVILLE, ILL. - Leave it to a 19-year-old kid to provide the perspective. The Chicago Blackhawks are winless in three games, after losing to Nashville in a shootout Monday night.

Following practice at the team's facility in the Chicago suburbs, Patrick Kane promised that nobody is panicking over the slow start.

"It's three games into the season. It almost feels like we're out of the playoffs already the way people are talking," Kane told Sporting News. "It's a long season. There are 79 games left in the season, you can't be pushing the panic button right now. It's not like we're out of the playoffs yet."

Kane's assurances aside, it's been a rough start for the Blackhawks, who entered this season with high expectations after a strong finish last year — and big additions in free agency.

The expectations have added pressure to one of the youngest and most talented teams in the league, one that no longer has the luxury of sneaking up on the opposition.

"People are ready for us and that's a new experience for these guys," said general manager Dale Tallon. "People have identified them as an up-and-coming team and they're going to have to be more prepared than they ever have been."

Already, defensemen Duncan Keith (29:48) and Brian Campbell (28:30) are logging tons of ice time while guys like Brent Sopel struggle. Sopel, who is minus-4, saw his ice time cut nearly in half to 11:03 against Nashville.

Jonathan Toews is still looking for his first goal, and has only one point in three games.

And then there's the goaltending. Despite Tallon's best efforts, the season has started and both Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin are on the team. Khabibulin cleared waivers, and he told Sporting News that his exploration to find a job in Russia ended when the season started.

"I didn't want that to hang over my head," Khabibulin said. "I stopped all discussions on that front. Right now, I'm with the Blackhawks and committed to playing and doing the best I can."

At its best, the goalie situation is a chance for two legitimate No. 1 goalies to battle it out for playing time, each raising his game to keep the other on the bench.

Huet realizes that's not how it's going so far. His save percentage is .893 and he was beat twice Monday in the shootout. Khabibulin gave up four goals in his only start this season.

"So far, every judgment is pretty negative because we haven't won a game," Huet said, assessing the situation. "Everything I can say doesn't have much impact. Obviously, when we're going to get on a roll eventually, we have the luxury to have two goalies who can compete. Down the road, I think it's going to be a good thing."

Down the road. Right now, maybe it's a distraction. Or maybe the Blackhawks are just a young team handling higher expectations while trying to figure out how to win at the same time. Coach Denis Savard is trying to fast-track the learning. But there might not be another coach in the league under more pressure for wins. The longer this winless streak continues, the more that pressure builds.

On Tuesday morning, Scotty Bowman sat on the top row of the practice rink bleachers and observed as Savard and his staff tried to get the team on track. Bowman is a senior advisor to president John McDonough and a sounding board for Savard.

But even from the top of the bleachers, he casts a long shadow on Savard, whose contract is up after this season. What if Bowman isn't impressed? What if he has a better candidate in mind?

Winning would quiet those questions, and Savard isn't using youth and inexperience as excuses.

"There are no excuses. We know we're young. It doesn't mean you can't win when you're young," Savard said. "The more reps they get, the more we show them, the more they can understand what it takes to win. Not that they don't, but right now, we're not there."

Also on NBCSports.com NFL: Compare NFL playoff teams, vote on winners College football: Pressure is on OU in BCS title game NBA: A toast to teams that are already toast College hoops: Cal already contending under Monty MLB: Free agent tracker, updates team needs, more NHL: Here's what to expect in second half of season

MORE FROM NHL

NHL Section Front

Sens reportedly to clean house, hire Quinn as coach NHL suspends Senator for biting Sabre   Video: See Senator bite Sabre's thumb Lang's hat trick ensures Habs pull away from Rangers Live updates on Wednesday's NHL games Lidstrom leads list of Western All-Star reserves NHL All-Star rosters, statistics Sakic undergoes back surgery Maple Leafs acquire May from Ducks Clement: Bruins are looking simply brilliant NHL Section Front   Add NHL headlines to your news reader: