Red Wings Stumble at Home as Kings Snap Momentum, Kane Ties U.S. Points Record
After a strong road trip that had the Red Wings riding high, Tuesday night’s return to Little Caesars Arena didn’t go quite as planned. Detroit came into the matchup with just one regulation loss in their last 10 games, but the visiting Kings brought that momentum to a halt with a 3-1 win that left the Wings looking for answers.
The loss drops Detroit to 32-17-5 on the season, and while the effort wasn’t completely flat, it lacked the sharpness we’ve seen from them in recent weeks. The Kings, meanwhile, executed a disciplined, opportunistic game plan and got timely goaltending to walk out with two points.
Kane Makes History - Almost
The silver lining for Detroit came from Patrick Kane, who continues his climb up the NHL record books. Kane picked up an assist on Alex DeBrincat’s late third-period goal, giving him 1,374 career points - tying him with Michigan native Mike Modano for the most points ever by a U.S.-born player.
Kane nearly grabbed the record outright just moments later. Moritz Seider found him with a slick feed near the post, and for a split second, it looked like Kane might bury it. But Kings goalie Anton Forsberg had other plans, sliding across to make the stop and preserve the lead.
That save proved pivotal. Instead of a tied game and a historic moment, the Kings iced it just seconds later with Corey Perry’s empty-netter at 18:47, sealing the 3-1 final.
Kings Capitalize, Wings Miss Opportunities
Samuel Helenius got the scoring started midway through the second period, snapping home a feed from Jeff Malott to beat John Gibson cleanly. It was Helenius’ second goal of the season and a reward for a hard-working shift by the Kings’ bottom six.
Los Angeles extended their lead in the third on the power play. Adrian Kempe worked the puck down low and found Andrei Kuzmenko in the slot. Kuzmenko didn’t hesitate, one-timing it past Gibson for his 11th of the season at 6:46.
Detroit had their chances, including three power plays, but couldn’t convert. The Red Wings’ man advantage unit, which has been hot and cold this season, came up empty in all three opportunities. That’s an area they’ll need to tighten up as they continue this homestand.
Gibson, who had won eight straight starts, saw that streak snapped despite making 23 saves. He wasn’t the issue - the Kings just made the most of their chances, and Forsberg was sharp when it mattered, stopping 21 shots for the win.
Looking Ahead
The Red Wings won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’re back at it Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, looking to bounce back and keep pace in a tight playoff race.
As for Kane, the next point he tallies will make him the all-time leader in points among American-born players - a milestone that feels inevitable, but still carries weight. The Wings would love nothing more than to see him do it in front of the home crowd, ideally in a bounce-back win.
For now, Detroit regroups. One off night doesn’t erase the strides they’ve made, but it’s a reminder that in this league, every shift matters - especially when playoff positioning is on the line.