Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Notebook: Kane Getting His Groove Back

Enjoys three-point night in Detroit victory

Published

4 months ago

December 23, 2023

Bob Duff

Patick Kane has nine points in nine games with the Red Wings.

There might be 99 problems with the Detroit Red Wings, but Patrick Kane isn’t one of them.

Sitting with two points and a minus-seven rating through his first six games with the club, the former Hart Trophy winner is catching fire in a hurry. During Detroit’s 7-6 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Kane would score twice, draw an assist and also tally during the shootout.

Patrick Kane remains FILTHY in the shootout 🤢 pic.twitter.com/7Ep25mjUtV

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 23, 2023

“You could feel from night one that he could have a night like this,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “He’s been around it, making plays.”

Kane has seven points over the last three games. His nine-game totals as a Red Wing are four goals and five assists.

“Tonight, I don’t think it was one of my better games but it ends up looking all right on the scoresheet,” Kane said. “Sometimes you’re not going to have the puck as much as other nights. Just try to get the timing down. When I get the chances put them home.”

Red Wings Larkin Finding Game

In his third game back from a four-game injury absence, Lalonde put captain Dylan Larkin on a line with Kane and Alex DeBrincat. They clicked for three goals and eight points.

“I think the exciting thing was the Larks was the Larks before the injury,” Lalonde said. “His last two games, he wasn’t himself. You could tell he was a little off.

“Tonight he was driving. And he’s gonna make any wingers look good. Obviously, two players like that, they’re going to create off the rush, but I loved what they did in the O-Zone. They had some zone time, they made some plays. Just a quality game.”

Maatta Exits With Injury

Defenseman Olli Maatta was lost in the first period to an upper-body injury and might be heading for an extended stay in sick bay.

“Just got the word that he’ll be unavailable for (Saturday at New Jersey),” Lalonde said.

Jake Walman, out of the lineup Friday, will come back into the defensive group to replace Maatta.

Ghosting The Ref

Red Wings defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere drew the ire of the officials when he pantomimed diving after being assessed a second-period penalty for interference. Gostisbehere was inferring that Flyers forward Cam Atkinson had embellished on the play.