Kane hopes to make more memories with the Red Wings on his second trip back to Chicago

DETROIT – Patrick Kane will return to Chicago for the second time when the Detroit Red Wings play the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, TVAS-D).

His first return didn't just celebrate his highlights. It became a highlight in itself.

“The way it went,” he said, “you couldn’t write it better.”

It was on Feb. 25, in the same game, that the Blackhawks cut the No. 7 pick for former defenseman Chris Chelios, another of their all-time greats who later played for the Red Wings.

The Blackhawks showed a video tribute during the first TV timeout, thanking Kane for everything he accomplished with them.

The number 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft won the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013 and 2015) as well as the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year 2007/08) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs). 2013), Art Ross Trophy (top scorer 2015-16) and Hart Trophy (MVP 2015-16).

The forward stood in front of the Detroit bench and looked at the scoreboard screen. He then did a lap, stick raised and the spotlight pointed at him. The fans roared so loudly and for so long that he spun around again. Eventually, at the urging of his teammates, he smiled and laughed and took third place.

“Detroit (stinks)!” The fans chanted immediately afterwards.

The best part was yet to come.

The Red Wings tied the game 2-2 at 15:44 of the third period when Kane assisted on a goal by forward Alex DeBrincat, his Chicago teammate from 2017-22.

Kane was trailing when the Blackhawks had a 3-on-2 duel in overtime.

“To be honest, I didn’t really check,” Kane said with an embarrassed laugh. “I kind of fell behind. They had a 3-on-2 duel and I thought they would either score or if we got the puck I would be open to a breakaway.”

Goalkeeper James Reimer made a few saves. DeBrincat pounced on a rebound and backhanded the puck into the neutral zone for Kane.

“The puck was kind of sitting there,” DeBrincat said. “I saw 'Kaner' out of the corner of my eye, so I just did it. He did the rest.”

Kane collected the puck all alone at the red line. He had so much time that it was tantamount to a penalty.

“If you watch the replay you can see I was looking back to see if any defenders were coming or maybe someone else for a 2-on-0, but I decided to just go for it myself, slow it down and do it “” Kane said. “It was a pretty crazy moment.”

Kane performed a stickhandling move, blocked goaltender Petr Mrazek, and shot the puck past his glove and into the top right corner of the net.

Curtains.