RECAP: Kane passes Modano for most points by U.S.-born NHL player in Detroit’s 4-3 shootout loss to Washington

DETROIT -- Accomplishing another remarkable feat in his shoo-in Hockey Hall of Fame career, Patrick Kane passed Mike Modano for the most points by a United States-born player in NHL history when he recorded his 1,375th with the secondary assist on Ben Chiarot’s second-period goal in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night.

“It’s nice to have it over with in some ways,” Kane said. “Just kind of worry about the rest of the season, what we can accomplish as a team and hopefully go do something special as a group. But yeah, at the start of the season I think there’s a lot of attention and talk about 500 goals and possibly getting this record. So, nice to get there, be done with it and move on.”

Goalie John Gibson finished with 20 saves for Detroit (32-17-6; 70 points), while netminder Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves for Washington (26-22-7; 59 points).

“I was proud of the way we played,” said Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. “I was proud of the way we responded after that first period. In years past, that’s a game we would’ve crumbled in, and we didn’t.”

Detroit saw Alex DeBrincat’s power-play goal just 2:26 into the game wiped away because of Washington’s successful offside challenge -- Kane would’ve made history then and there with an assist on the play -- and at 6:27, found itself trailing 1-0 after Nic Dowd beat Gibson with a snap shot from the left face-off circle. The Red Wings went back on the man advantage with 2:02 left but couldn’t tie things up before the end of the frame.

“Obviously, pretty crazy the way you think you have it and then it comes back for offside,” Kane said. “I don’t think many of us knew it was offside on the ice, but there was a little bit of feeling something was going on when the guys didn’t come from the bench.”

At 9:52 of the middle frame, Detroit’s bench excitedly emptied onto the ice and mobbed Kane for making history. Kane found DeBrincat in the left face-off circle, who set up Ben Chiarot for a blast of a one-timer from just below the blue line to even it 1-1. Chiarot, who re-signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings on Wednesday, scored his fifth goal of the season.

“He’s one of the best American players of all time,” Kane said of Modano. “A guy I looked up to a lot when I was younger. I remember the moment he passed Phil Housley in San Jose on a breakaway goal, and to see him up there [on the videoboard], as a former Red Wing too, sending a message like that was pretty classy.”

Dylan Strome’s wraparound goal pushed the Capitals back in front 2-1 at 9:36 of the third period. Although the Red Wings unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, they killed off the resulting penalty. Detroit fell behind 3-1 at 14:44 though, as Declan Chisholm tipped Jakob Chychrun’s shot into the back of the net.

“The challenge on [Strome's] goal, I’d still argue that our way,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said. “But, it obviously didn’t go that way.”

Scoring two goals in the final two minutes of regulation to send the action into overtime, DeBrincat pulled the hosts back within one at 18:20 with his 29th before his team-leading 30th of the season – a rather crazy bounce off the boards went into the net after hitting Lindgren – made it 3-3 at 19:07.

“I try not to think about it too much in the moment, but it’s hard to score in this League,” said DeBrincat, who registered his second straight 30-goal campaign and fifth of his NHL career. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play with players who give me the puck in good spots and make it easy on me. A lot of credit to them and some credit to those bounces I get today.”

Neither Eastern Conference squad lit the lamp in the extra stanza. As far as how the shootout played out, Lucas Raymond and Kane both scored for Detroit while Strome, Ryan Leonard and Dowd all scored for Washington.

“If I was to sum it up, I would say it was a real good comeback by us,” McLellan said. “It looked pretty bleak there for a while. The bounce, that reminds me of Joe Louis sometimes – the way those boards would work in our favor. I don’t think we’ll see many more goals like that, but we’ll take it.”

NEXT UP: The Red Wings will wrap up their three-game homestand when the Colorado Avalanche visit Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon.

WHAT WAS SAID

McLellan on DeBrincat

“Competitive. As soon as you use his name, I just think competitive, hungry. We need that. That rubs off on other guys. Not only does he get rewarded, but the other guys see it. He provides energy.”

Kane on his historic point

“Nice to get another chance at it, and great play all around. Copper pulling up, hitting me with some speed. Hitting Cat, pulling up, hitting the late guy. Copper gets to the net and a great shot by Benny, so it was a really great all-around play.”

DeBrincat on celebrating Kane’s accomplishment after the game

“We took a team picture. It’s still special to be part of history, whether we win or lose. I think it’s a special moment for him and all of us, but now we’re onto the next one and ready to go on Saturday.”

DeBrincat on Thursday’s game and Kane’s achievement

It’s obviously cool to be part of history. I think we didn’t play our best game. Definitely not happy with one point, we should’ve had two, but it’s good.”