Patrick Kane scores OT winner in 1st assembly vs. Blackhawks

CHICAGO — Patrick Kane raised his stick and skated to the center of the ice thrice, and the group obtained louder with each lap. It simply stored cheering as play resumed, after which picked up once more when Kane was proven on the overhead videoboard.

Showtime was again — and nobody appeared to care all that a lot that he performs for certainly one of Chicago’s longtime rivals for the time being.

Kane returned to Chicago with the Detroit Pink Wings on Sunday for his first recreation towards the Blackhawks since he was traded to the New York Rangers a yr in the past. The 35-year-old winger, nicknamed Showtime for his flashy type, had 446 objectives and 779 assists in 1,161 regular-season video games along with his first NHL group.

Identical to he has so many occasions earlier than, Kane delivered. He had a aim and an help in Detroit’s 3-2 victory, closing it out on a breakaway 1:43 into extra time. Whereas celebrating his winner, Kane yelled, ” Showtime!” along with his arms within the air because the season-high United Middle crowd of 21,141 cheered.

“Simply quite a lot of feelings proper now, scoring that aim, being again right here, being on a special group,” mentioned Kane, who has 5 objectives and 7 assists throughout an eight-game factors streak. “Simply tried to indicate the followers there on the finish they will at all times have my coronary heart right here.”

Kane’s Chicago homecoming coincided with the Blackhawks retiring Corridor of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios’ No. 7 jersey in a pregame ceremony. Chelios additionally hung out with the Pink Wings throughout his taking part in profession.

Chelios paid tribute to Kane throughout his speech, saying the Buffalo native will go down as hockey’s best American-born participant.

“That jersey seems to be sort of humorous, Kaner, but it surely’ll develop on you,” he mentioned. “And don’t fret, it’s going to work out in the long run. You will be standing right here, similar as me.”

That prompted the primary in a sequence of thunderous roars on the United Middle. There was one other large cheer when Kane was introduced with Detroit’s beginning lineup.

The Blackhawks aired a tribute video throughout the first TV timeout within the first interval. The gang began cheering even earlier than the video began, after which stored going as Kane repeatedly waved in appreciation — sporting a sheepish grin at occasions.

“Simply so particular. You do not anticipate something much less from the Blackhawks with the tribute,” Kane mentioned. “Did not know if I did sufficient laps or too many laps. The fellows stored telling me to go for one more one, go for one more one. A few of them wished to see 4, I solely did three. It was nice.”

Kane turned a free agent after ending final season with the Rangers. He had hip resurfacing surgical procedure in June and labored his method into form earlier than signing with Detroit in November. He has 12 objectives and 16 assists in 27 video games with the Pink Wings.

“It has been nice. I’ve nothing however optimistic emotions and feelings being right here,” he mentioned of becoming a member of Detroit. “Actually loved my time right here. I feel the group’s been nice, the teaching workers, everybody simply giving me the prospect to return in right here and slot in and discover my recreation.”

Kane was chosen by Chicago with the No. 1 decide within the 2007 draft. He had an instantaneous affect, successful the Calder Trophy for NHL rookie of the yr after he had 21 objectives and 51 assists throughout the 2007-08 season.

It was solely the start.

The rise of Kane, Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith helped the Blackhawks put collectively one of the best stretch in franchise historical past, successful the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Chicago additionally made it to the Western Convention Last in 2014, shedding to the Los Angeles Kings in a seven-game sequence.

“While you undergo it, you do not notice how fortunate and appreciative you might be,” Kane mentioned. “However, man, I imply we had some gamers on that group and, you recognize, I feel the beauty of that group is we had been actually shut as a gaggle, however there was quite a lot of internal competitors, too.”

The Blackhawks have struggled of late, and Kane waived a no-movement clause in his contract to facilitate the commerce with New York final yr.

“It was a fantastic run,” Kane mentioned. “I feel we had been sort of on the time limit when it was, I feel for the group and myself, it was most likely good to begin recent and simply get pleasure from one thing completely different.”