Kane scores OT winner in return to Chicago, giving Wings 3-2 victory

Chicago — Of course it had to end this way, on a memorable day with Patrick Kane returning to Chicago, where he starred so many years with the Blackhawks.

In sports, it just seems to work out like this, so often.

Kane found himself alone on a breakaway at 1 minute, 43 seconds of overtime, and fittingly scored the winning goal, as the Red Wings, his new team, defeated the Blackhawks 3-2.

The capacity United Center crowd, which also honored Chris Chelios on his jersey retirement ceremony earlier in the afternoon, erupted for Kane's goal, just as it did for Kane during a video tribute in the first period.

"It was a different kind of night," Kane said. "I was just trying to stay focused on the game and I didn't feel like I was into it when it started. Once the tribute happened, it was nice to get that out of the way and just focus on hockey. I found my game in the second (period).

"There's just a lot of emotions right now. Being back here and being on a different team. I just tried to show the fans I'll always have my heart here.

"It was great.

Kane found himself alone on the winning goal, with again, fittingly, former Blackhawks linemate Alex DeBrincat firing the outlet pass to spring Kane free on Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek. Fittingly, too, DeBrincat scored the tying goal at 15:44 in the third period, helping send the game to overtime.

"I was just behind the play there in overtime and saw we had the puck and tried to take off," Kane said. "You know, the feeling of the moment when you get the puck and I just tried to stick with what I wanted to do."

DeBrincat was simply happy to be part of the occasion.

"It was an awesome ending," DeBrincat said. "For him to score here, the fans were loving it and to go home with two points was huge for us.

"I don't think you could have scripted it better."

Kane skated to near center ice to salute the fans about three times, as they continuously roared through the video tribute.

"That was so special, and I don't expect anything less from the Blackhawks with the tribute," Kane siad. "I don't know if I did enough laps or too many. Guys kept telling me to go for another one."

The combination of Kane's return and Chelios having his jersey retired made for a breathtaking day of hockey emotions, which coach Derek Lalonde appreciated.

But the victory was even more special from the Wings' perspective.

"An amazing night," Lalonde said. "You have a vision of what it would look like. The Chelly thing was amazing and then the reception Kaner got after his first ovation, you expected it but it was just next level. I was getting emotional. It was just an amazing moment.

"It wasn't our best game, and a lot of credit to our opponent. The guys found a way to get us two points."

DeBrincat tied the score at 2-2 at 15:44 of the third period. DeBrincat scored his 22nd goal, bouncing a shot off Mrazek, a former Wing, and into the net.

"Sometimes the goalie has a little space in the pad," DeBrincat said of his thought process. "It (the puck) was just sitting there for a second or two and luckily it trickled in. We didn't get much going today and I tried to shoot the first one (earlier) and it went in the corner. I just wanted to get another one on net."

Daniel Sprong scored his 16th goal, opening the scoring in the first period. Sprong was falling to the ice but somehow managed to get enough velocity on the shoot to beat Mrazek with 41 seconds left in the first period.

BOX SCORE: Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2, OT

But Chicago answered with two second-period goals, from MacKenzie Entwistle and Nick Foligno (power play), giving Chicago the lead.

Foligno's goal made it 2-1 at 17:52. Rookie sensation Connor Bedard whistled a shot from the dot that deflected off Foligno and through goaltender James Reimer.

Reimer was the Wings' unsung hero, as they won their fifth consecutive game and maintained the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Reimer stopped 33 shots, including Bedard on a breakaway early in the third period to keep the Wings within a goal.

"I saw he was kind of cheating behind our defense and screaming a bit (for the puck) and they made a good play to hit him," Reimer said. "He's a great player so when a great player comes down on you, you just try to stay patient and possibly get a piece of it and I was lucky enough to get a piece of it.

"It was real cool," Reimer said of the evening. "It's only so often you can be part of a special night in this game. I've been lucky to be part of a few but this one ranks right up there. He's (Kane) such an elite player and to be on his team when he comes back to this city, and the reception he got, kudos to the fans here, the reception was awesome.

"And the way it ended."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan