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Red Wings' Kane turns in vintage performance vs. Sabres
Detroit Red Wings right winger Patrick Kane (88) celebrates with goalie Petr Mrazek (43) after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Red Wings' Patrick Kane turns in vintage performance vs. Sabres

Detroit Red Wings right winger Patrick Kane didn't look like a 36-year-old nearing the end of his career in Wednesday's home game against the Buffalo Sabres. 

In Detroit's 7-3 victory against Buffalo, Kane had five points, scoring two goals and tallying three assists on 23 shifts.

According to NHL Public Relations, it was the fourth five-point game of Kane's 18-year career. That's tied with Keith and Matthew Tkachuk for the sixth-most by a U.S.-born player.

He's also the fourth player in Red Wings history with a five-point game at 36 or older, via Sportsnet Stats.

The Chicago Blackhawks took Kane with pick No. 1 in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In his first 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, he captured three Stanley Cups, made four All-Star Games and won the 2015-16 Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's MVP.  

He has struggled since undergoing surgery for a long-term hip issue in June 2023.

In 50 games with the Red Wings during the 2023-24 season, he had a career-low 47 points (20 goals and 27 assists). Through his first 54 games this season, he recorded 15 goals and 25 assists

However, Kane has recently regained his elite form. Over his past 25 games, he has 31 points. 

Detroit (31-28-6, 68 points) had lost six straight games before Wednesday night's matchup with Buffalo (25-33-6, 56 points). 

If the playoffs started Wednesday, the Red Wings would miss the postseason, and the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-25-8, 70 points) would earn the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. 

Kane scoring more goals and racking up more assists could certainly help Detroit get back into the playoff race.       

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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