Kane reaches 1,300 points, Red Wings halt four-game slide with 4-2 win over Capitals

(AP) Detroit, MI-DETROIT In the Red Wings’ 4-2 victory over Washington on Sunday, Patrick Kane scored 1,300 points and Todd McLellan won his first game as Detroit’s coach.

Kane had a power-play goal and an assist during Detroit’s four-goal first period, and he needed two points to reach that milestone.

Dec. 29, Detroit, Michigan: Following the Detroit Red Wings’ victory over the Washington Capitals at Little Caesars Arena on December 29, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan, Alex Lyon #34 is applauded by his teammates. Detroit lost to Washington 4-2. (Photo)

The Red Wings ended a four-game losing streak with two goals from Alex DeBrincat and another from Lucas Raymond. 26 saves were made by Alex Lyon.

Before Friday’s defeat to Toronto, McLellan took Derek Lalonde’s position.

After missing the previous 16 games due to a fractured fibula, Alex Ovechkin scored for the second straight game. The Capitals’ top forward is just 25 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s 894-goal NHL record.

The other Capitals goal went to Nic Dowd. Despite Charlie Lindgren’s 23 saves, Washington was still one point behind Eastern Conference leader New Jersey.

Takeaways

Capitals: With 17 goals in his first 20 games this season, Ovechkin is tied for the second-highest total of any season’s first 20 games. The 39-year-old Ovechkin is in his 20th season.

Red Wings: In McLellan’s second game as a substitute, the Wings were more focused and energized. They exploited a weary Capitals squad that was playing its second game in less than twenty-four hours.

Key moment

The Red Wings responded 31 seconds after Ovechkin’s goal to take a 3-1 lead. DeBrincat scored first after Kane’s backhand feed.

Key stat

After Mike Modano’s 1,374 points, Kane is the second player born in the United States to exceed 1,300 points. Along with Ovechkin and Penguins players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Kane is the fourth active player to accomplish that feat.

Up Next

On Tuesday, the Red Wings play Pittsburgh, and the Capitals host Boston.

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