Chicago Blackhawks fans didn’t witness their favorite team win Sunday afternoon.
But they saw the next-best thing.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, the future Hall of Famer who won three Stanley Cups over 16 seasons in Chicago, returned to United Center for the first time since being traded last February.
After the Red Wings and Blackhawks battled to a 2–2 tie through three periods, Kane took the ice in overtime and found himself alone with the puck at mid-ice. He calmly skated past the blue line and deked out Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek, lighting the lamp for a game-winning goal.
A homecoming fit for a Hollywood script.
PATRICK KANE GETS THE OVERTIME WINNER ON THE BREAKAWAY IN CHICAGO!!!!!
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 26, 2024
ABSOLUTE SCENES IN THE UNITED CENTER ???? pic.twitter.com/5xlUlGlIfI
But Blackhawks fans were all for it. They stood on their feet and gave Kane a standing ovation, recognizing him for the overtime winner and the near two decades of greatness he gave to Chicago.
Even after scoring to beat the Blackhawks in OT, Patrick Kane is the most beloved man here. His final ovation lap of the night: pic.twitter.com/sNyAbpNmLk
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 26, 2024
It doesn’t get much better than that.