It was 18 years ago in Columbus that current Detroit Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk were the 1-2 selections in the NHL entry draft.
It was two games ago in Columbus when Kane and van Riemsdyk both hit the goal column in the same game for the Red Wings for the first time.
This fact was not lost on Kane.
“It was cool last game playing together, because that’s where we were drafted in Columbus a long time ago,” Kane told reporters following Saturday’s 4-3 win at Seattle.
Both old hands also had a hand in Detroit’s latest victory.
With Detroit trailing 3-2, it was van Riemsdyk who netted the tying goal. That was his third game in a row with a goal and fifth tally in six games.
JVR! JVR! JVR!
His game-tying goal with :28 remaining in the 2nd is our @xfinity game-changing moment! pic.twitter.com/21oqkYDYty
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 7, 2025
“JVR, he’s hot right now, and he’s finding a way to contribute by scoring goals,” Kane said. “And he’s making a lot of good plays, too, so he’s playing really well.”
Red Wings Kane On Verge Of NHL Milestones
It would be Kane netting the game-winner with 2:29 left in regulation time. His goal came off a feed from perennial scoring partner Alex DeBrincat. He’s now scored in back-to-back games after going goalless for nine straight.
“He can still handle the puck as good as ever,” said Andrew Copp. He’s been working at center between Kane and DeBrincat in recent games. “It’s a pleasure to see him operate on the half wall on the power play.
“Glad he’s on our team.”
THAT’S SHOWTIME BABY 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/toCtAvBLt9
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 7, 2025
Kane now sits with 497 NHL goals as he seeks to join the select 500-goal club. He’s also 13 points from surpassing former Red Wings center Mike Modano as the all-time American-born point producer in NHL history.
“Nice to see one go in, but I’m just trying to produce, right?” Kane said. “Create scoring chances, make plays, be good on the power play, be good in my spot defensively. Try to play my game.”
Detroit is the only team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference with three 30-point players – Dylan Larkin (31), Lucas Raymond (31), and DeBrincat (30). Entering Saturday’s game, that trio had accounted for 45% of the Red Wings’ goals.
On a night when captain Larkin was missing for a significant part of the game while getting stitches, the Red Wings required scoring from depth areas and got it.
Copp scored for the first time in 27 games. Rookie Emmitt Finnie opened the scoring with his first goal in nine games and second in 20 games.
Without that steady presence of balanced scoring, the Red Wings are never going to be a team capable of winning with any consistency.