Patrick Kane Ties U.S. Scoring Record, But Kings Crash the Party in Detroit
Patrick Kane etched his name alongside American hockey royalty on Tuesday night, tying Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player in NHL history. But the celebration at Little Caesars Arena was cut short by a dialed-in Los Angeles Kings squad that came into Detroit and left with a 3-1 win - their third straight victory and a reminder that this team is finding its stride on the road.
Let’s start with Kane. His assist on Alex DeBrincat’s late goal gave him point number 1,374, matching the mark Modano set over a 21-season Hall of Fame career.
Kane’s milestone moment was vintage - a well-timed feed to DeBrincat that broke up a potential shutout and gave the home crowd something to cheer about in the closing minutes. It wasn’t enough to change the outcome, but it was a fitting piece of history for one of the game’s most gifted playmakers.
The Kings, meanwhile, continue to be road warriors. Their 14-6-6 record away from home now ranks third-best in the Western Conference, and they looked every bit the part in Detroit.
They weathered a scoreless first period before breaking through in the second thanks to a gritty, second-effort play that started in the corners and ended with Samuel Helenius ripping one home from the slot. Credit Jeff Malott for the setup - he dug the puck out of the scrum and found Helenius in perfect position for his second goal of the season.
From there, goaltender Anton Forsberg took over. The veteran netminder was locked in, turning aside all 27 shots he faced through the first two periods and finishing with 27 total saves.
It was his third win in his last four starts and pushed his record to 9-6-4. Forsberg didn’t just stop pucks - he controlled rebounds, tracked traffic, and gave Detroit nothing easy.
With the Red Wings pressing in the third, he remained calm, composed, and unshakable.
Los Angeles added insurance early in the third when Andrei Kuzmenko cashed in on the power play - a rare sight for a Kings unit that’s struggled with the man advantage all season. It was just their 24th power play goal of the year, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. Kuzmenko’s tally, his 11th of the season, gave L.A. a 2-0 cushion and put Detroit in a bind.
The Red Wings made a late push, pulling the goalie and throwing everything they had at the Kings’ net. But Corey Perry slammed the door shut with an empty-netter that sealed the win and extended his point streak to five games.
That goal also came on a night when Perry reached another milestone of his own - tying Mike Gartner for 34th all-time in games played with 1,432. It’s been a quietly productive stretch for the veteran, who continues to find ways to contribute in big moments.
For the Kings, the win came less than 24 hours after their scheduled game in Columbus was postponed due to weather - a potential disruption that didn’t seem to faze them. They now sit fourth in the Pacific Division and have officially split the season series with Detroit, with each team stealing a win on the other’s home ice.
Next up for Los Angeles: a Thursday afternoon tilt in Buffalo against a Sabres team riding a four-game win streak of its own. It’s a matchup between two squads building momentum at the right time - and one that could have playoff implications down the line.
As for Kane, the record-tying point is a reminder of just how much he’s given to the game - and how much more he might still have left. The Red Wings may have come up short, but their veteran star gave fans a moment they won’t forget anytime soon.