The Detroit Red Wings finally put an end to their losing skid during the 2024-25 NHL season. After six consecutive losses, Todd McLellan’s side finally secured two points, doing so against league’s bottomfeeder and divisional opponents, the Buffalo Sabres. A win is a win, nevertheless. Following the triumph at home, star Patrick Kane issued an honest statement about his physical health after battling with injuries all season long.
The Red Wings’ win came at the perfect moment to keep Motown’s Stanley Cup Playoffs hopes burning. Detroit is just two points behind the second wildcard team in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference. However, the competition is intense as almost every team in the conference is still in the race.
Outings like the Red Wings‘ dominant 7-3 win over the Sabres will be crucial in their postseason chase. And performances like Kane’s are exactly what the doctor ordered, giving Detroit fans a nostalgic glimpse of vintage ‘Showtime’.
After the blowout win over Buffalo, Patrick Kane chatted with NHL on TNT’s crew during an interview in which the 36-year-old voiced a sincere admission about his health, making sure McLellan listened.
Patrick Kane #88 of the Detroit Red Wings is introduced before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on October 10, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
“If not, I’m very close [to being at 100%],” Kane stated postgame after being asked by New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist. “Body feels really good. I think after the surgery, you know, I felt good last year, but I still didn’t feel like my hip was my own, if that makes any sense. And now it just kind of feels like it’s a part of me, it belongs to me. It’s been nice to be playing without pain the last couple of years. Feeling good, feeling a lot better.”
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McLellan’s message to the team
The Red Wings got a huge weight off their backs and managed to breathe a sigh of relief. However, their work is far from over, quite the contrary. This is only the first building stone for the team hoping to snap their eight-season playoff drought, the longest in franchise history.
After the crucial victory, McLellan voiced an odd statement for Kane and the rest of the team to listen to.
“There’s relief, obviously—the losing streak is over, and we got rewarded for some of the things we did,” McLellan said, per NHL.com. “Hockey is an odd game—I thought we played a better game in Ottawa and lost 2-1.”
Head coach Todd McLellan of the Detroit Red Wings looks on prior to the start of the second period of the 2025 NHL Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Gordie Howe hat trick incoming?
Kane put on a tremendous showing during Detroit’s win at home over Buffalo. He finished the night with two goals and three assists. It was his first five-point night since Jan. 20, 2019 when he helped the Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Washington Capitals by a score of 8-5.
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Not content with the performance, Kane almost completed a Gordie Howe hat trick. It would’ve been a fitting tribute for the Red Wings’ legend, but Kane hilariously admitted he missed on his chance, when he could’ve dropped the gloves with Buffalo’s Zach Benson.
“I was up there, it was against Benson, I thought that might be the one for me,” Kane said, via NHL on TNT. “And the next [scuffle] I was with Owen Power, so I mean, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to go against a guy that’s 6’5”. But, you never know when those come, I guess. If it happened it happened, but no, never had one [Gordie Howe hat trick], so tonight would have been the night.”
Patrick Kane #88 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on November 06, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
McLellan and the Red Wings won’t be urging Kane to drop the gloves—he’s far more valuable with his gloves on and the puck on his stick. But if that’s the price for Showtime’s five-point nights, it just might be worth it.
