Patrick Kane scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his return to Chicago on Sunday, February 25th. Before the game, the Chicago Blackhawks held a ceremony for the retirement of Chris Chelios’ No. 7 jersey. Chelios is a former defenseman who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Detroit Red Wings. He is currently the oldest active player to win the Stanley Cup. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Blackhawks with a 3-2 victory for their fifth straight win.
Red Wings lineup against the Blackhawks:
DeBrincat – Larkin – Kane
Rasmussen – Compher – Raymond
Veleno – Copp – Perron
Fabbri – Fischer – Sprong
Walman – Seider
Chiarot – Petry
Maatta – Gsotisbehere
Reimer
Lyon
Blackhawks lineup against the Red Wings:
Foligno – Bedard – Kurashev
Blackwell – Dickinson – Anderson
Beauvillier – Johnson – Raddysh
Donato – Entwistle – Johnson
Vlasic – Jones
Korchinski – Megna
Tinordi Crevier
Mrazek
Soderblom
Daniel Sprong struck first with his 16th goal of the season to put the Red Wings in the lead at 40.7 in the first period. Sprong scored while he had been falling forward after he took a return pass from Christian Fischer, who was in the left circle.
Tying the game 1-1 early into the second period at 16:31 – MacKenzie Entwistle scored his third of the season. He scored into an open net after he had gotten a pass from Reese Johnson, who followed the rebound of his own shot and then passed the puck out front to Entwistle. Later on in the middle frame, Nick Foligno gave Chicago a 2-1 lead on the power play at 2:08. Connor Bedard, who was at the top of the left circle, shot and it deflected in off Foligno in front.
Alex DeBrincat tied it at 2-2 late in the third with his 22nd goal of the season at 4:16. DeBrincat’s original shot had been blocked by Patrick Kane, but he got a second chance and it banked in off Petr Mrazek from below the goal line. Detroit and Chicago head into overtime to determine the game-winner.
At 3:17 in overtime, Patrick Kane made a storybook finish in his return to Chicago when he defeated Petr Mrazek glove side on a breakaway to wrap it up for that 3-2 final. After his game-winning goal, Kane took one final salute to the crowd.
Nick Foligno on the overtime loss against Detroit: “We’re trying to work our way through this year and the process, and having the lead. We haven’t had the lead in a while, disappointed to let it slip away, but the effort is always there and I guess just the structure with which we played was a lot better in this game. I noticed and just appreciated the guys, but we have to find ways to close games too. That’s the next step and understanding how to win. It’s disappointing because on a night, a great night like tonight with the building packed, everyone excited for Cheli, and obviously Kaner’s return – We got to find a way to close that out and make it a great night.”
Patrick Kane on his goal, return, and the ovation and video tribute: “I think just the whole night was weird, to be honest with you. Different kind of night. Obviously, you’re trying to stay focused on the game. It didn’t really feel like I was into it to start. Once the tribute happened, it was nice to kind of get that out of the way and start just focusing on hockey. I feel like I found my game in the second. Just a lot of emotions right now, scoring that goal, being back here, being on a different team. Just tried to show the fans there at the end they’ll always have my heart here. It was a special 16-17 years, whatever it was, I don’t even know. It was great.”
Kane on Connor Bedard and how he got a little physical on him: “It was good. He’s a great player, very creative. Got a little physical on me there in the corner, so he’s lucky he had that bubble on or I was going after him.”
Notes:
– Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist
Kane has 37 career overtime points (11 goals, 26 assists)… he tied Johnny Gaudreau and Patrick Elias for fourth in NHL history. He’s also the sixth player in League history to score an overtime goal in his first game against his former team… the first to do so since Marty Reasoner on March 12, 2009.
– James Reimer made 33 saves for Detroit and Petr Mrazek made 28 saves for Chicago.
– Connor Bedard recorded an assist and got a good hit on Patrick Kane.
Bedard has 40 points in 45 games (17 goals, 23 assists), tying Patrick Kane for the fourth-fewest games needed to reach that mark by a rookie in Chicago Blackhawks history. Denis Savard (42 games), Steve Larmer (43 games), and Jonathan Toews (44 games) did it in fewer games.
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