Kane scores OT winner in Chicago return, Red Wings rally past Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane scored at 1:42 of overtime in his return to Chicago, and the Detroit Red Wings rallied for a 3-2 victory against the Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday.

Kane, who also had an assist, beat Petr Mrazek glove side on a breakaway. He played his first 16 NHL seasons with Chicago, including winning the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013 and 2015), before being traded to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2023.

"I think just the whole night was weird, to be honest with you,” he said. “Different kind of night. Obviously, you’re trying to stay focused on a game. (It) didn’t really feel like I was into it to start. Once the tribute happened (in the first period), it was nice to get that out of the way and start just focusing on hockey. I think 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. Special 16-17 years, whatever it was, I don’t even know. But that was great.”

Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer made 33 saves for the Red Wings (32-20-6), who have won five in a row.

“For the most part, a pretty good job,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “Not our best, but a lot of credit to Chicago. I watched them back Friday night against Winnipeg (a 3-2 overtime win for the Jets), and they were good.”

MacKenzie Entwistle and Nick Foligno scored, and Mrazek made 28 saves for the Blackhawks (15-39-5), who have lost four in a row (0-2-2) and 12 of their past 13 (1-9-3). Connor Bedard had an assist.

Before the game, the Blackhawks held a ceremony for the retirement of Chris Chelios' No. 7 jersey. The Hall of Fame defenseman played for Chicago from 1990-99, and for Detroit from 1999-2009.

“It was exciting,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “I was privileged to be part of the ceremony tonight for a great player and person. It was really an honor, I think, for all of the team to be involved and being able to be out there and watch that.

“It kicked off the night well, and I thought the team reacted really well, rose to the occasion and played really hard. It would have been nice to win in regulation. We had the chance in overtime, but we didn’t get it.”

Daniel Sprong put the Red Wings ahead 1-0 at 19:19 of the first period, taking a return pass from Christian Fischer in the left circle and scoring while falling forward.

Entwistle tied the game 1-1 at 3:29 of the second period. Reese Johnson followed the rebound of his own shot and passed out front to Entwistle, who scored into an open net.

“'Reeser' was great,” Richardson said. “I think he was really hard up and down. He was physical. He shoots the puck really hard, and I think that’s what set the whole play up.”

Foligno gave Chicago a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal at 17:52 when Bedard's shot from the top of the left circle deflected in off him in front.

“My hand,” Foligno said. “I actually thought it was going to hit me in the face. Luckily, it hit my hand. It was a good shot. That’s the mindset on our power play. We need a little more of that shot mentality.”

DeBrincat tied it 2-2 at 15:44 of the third period, banking his second shot in off Mrazek from below the goal line after his initial attempt was blocked by Kane.

“Yeah, I think sometimes the goalies have that little space in the pad,” DeBrincat said. “It was sitting there for a second or two, and luckily it trickled in. We didn’t get much going today, I felt. Tried to shoot the first one, it went into the corner, and just thought I’d get another one on net.

“Yeah, it’s good. I think we’ve obviously got a lot of work to do, but we’re on the right track. We’re playing good hockey. Obviously, today probably wasn’t our best game, but we’ve come away with two points. That’s what good teams do. Even when they’re not at their best, they’re able to get the two points. That’s what we try to do, and next game we have to be a little bit more prepared.”

NOTES: Kane has 37 career overtime points (11 goals, 26 assists), which is tied with Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Elias for fourth in NHL history. He is also the sixth player in League history to score an overtime goal in his first game against his former team, and the first to do so since Marty Reasoner on March 12, 2009. ... Bedard has 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 45 games this season, tying Kane for the fourth-fewest games needed to reach the mark by a rookie in Blackhawks history. Only Denis Savard (42 games), Steve Larmer (43) and Jonathan Toews (44) did it in fewer games.