{"id":421391,"date":"2026-01-22T09:02:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/421391\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:02:20","slug":"kane-hoping-to-make-history-in-front-of-friends-and-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/421391\/","title":{"rendered":"Kane hoping to make history in front of friends and family"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings<\/a> held optional skates at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Patrick Kane<\/a> is just two points away from tying Mike Modano<\/a> for the most points ever recorded by an American-born player. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever it happens, it happens, but hopefully sooner rather than later,\u201d the Red Wings winger said. \u201cYeah, it\u2019d be nice to get a couple tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kane, who has amassed 1,372 points in 1,337 games, is from Buffalo and is hoping to make history in front of some friends on Wednesday night when the Red Wings take on the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. <\/p>\n

\u201cCouple buddies coming in,\u201d the 37-year-old confirmed with a grin. \u201cYou never know with my dad. I mean, he might show up, he might not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kane has eight multi-point games this season with his only three-point effort coming against the Leafs back in October. <\/p>\n

\u201cBody feels good, which is awesome,\u201d said Kane, who hit the 500-goal milestone earlier this month. \u201cFeel good about my game. As a player, as an offensive player, you\u2019re always hoping for more production. I think there\u2019s definitely more of that to come. I feel like I\u2019ve been a little unlucky with certain things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kane has racked up 29 points in 35 games this season. He has five points in the past six games and likes the chemistry on his line with Alex DeBrincat<\/a> and Andrew Copp<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe drive goes away from people later on in life,\u201d said Wings coach Todd McLellan<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to keep it up, but his drive has not diminished one bit. In fact, I think with some of these attainable goals, milestones if you will, his drive has actually increased and he\u2019s excited about being at the rink.\u201d <\/p>\n

Kane hoping to break USA record close to home in Toronto; unsure if dad will attend\u00a0 Patrick Kane says he’s never thinking about points going into a game but is aware that he’s only three points away from breaking Mike Modano’ record for the most among United States-born NHL players. He talks about possibly breaking the record in Toronto and what’s driving him right now. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Kane always enjoys going up against Leafs centre Auston Matthews<\/a>, who is second in scoring among active American players with 769 points in 672 games. <\/p>\n

\u201cOne day he\u2019ll probably be in the shoes I am right now,\u201d Kane predicted. \u201cThat\u2019s the guy, right? That\u2019s the next guy for a lot of American kids that they\u2019re looking up to now. He\u2019s such a special player in a big market and scores goals as good as anyone pretty much in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthews is heating up since Christmas with 11 goals in 12 games. <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like he\u2019s been very driven lately,\u201d Kane noted. \u201cHe\u2019s kind of leading their team right now, so definitely a guy we gotta watch out for. But always fun to go up against him.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a slow start production-wise, at least by his lofty standards, Matthews is looking more and more like the guy who scored 69 goals in the 2023-24 season. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a 70-goal scorer,\u201d said McLellan. \u201cThose don\u2019t grow on trees. And when you\u2019re hot and you\u2019re feeling good, you can score from just about anywhere on the ice. He\u2019s feeling it right now. He can take over a game just on his own. So, we\u2019ll have to be aware of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘That’s the next guy’: Kane thinks Matthews will probably break USA scoring record With Patrick Kane closing in on Mike Modano’s record for most points among United States-born NHL players. the Red Wings sniper says he won’t be surprised if Auston Matthews is the next one to break it. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Leafs winger Max Domi<\/a> lights up when asked about playing with Kane in Chicago during the 2022-23 season. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the best,\u201d Domi said. \u201cI look up to him like an older brother. He gets mad at me for saying it, but I always looked up to him as a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kane recalls hearing about that for the first time when the pair shared a ride together during a thunderstorm in New York. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe went to the US Open, the tennis, myself and my agent, we couldn\u2019t find a ride after,\u201d Kane said. \u201cIt was raining pretty hard and we jumped in with Tie [Domi] and Max. Tie was in the front seat just kind of giving it to Max, like, \u2018Tell Kaner how much you loved him when you were younger.\u2019” <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got to play with him, it was certainly a highlight of my whole career,\u201d Domi said.<\/p>\n

Domi\u2019s love for passing the puck was cultivating by watching YouTube videos of Kane, among others, growing up. Domi is now passing along some of the lessons he picked up from Kane to Leafs rookie Easton Cowan<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Domi and Cowan worked on backhand saucer passes at the Leafs optional skate on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust how to keep them a bit flatter and follow through a bit more,\u201d said Cowan. \u201cHe\u2019s a great passer and one of the game\u2019s best, so just learning from him has helped me out a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the schedule so busy, most of the Leafs opted to stay off the ice on Wednesday morning. Cowan and Domi were among just five regulars to gear up.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove getting out there with this guy,\u201d said Domi while nodding towards Cowan, who sits beside him in the dressing room. \u201cObviously, just working at the game and then trying to keep the hands fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Domi, Cowan and Kane are all alumni of the London Knights. <\/p>\n

Leafs Ice Chips: Inspired by Kane, Domi passes on lessons to Cowan\u00a0 Max Domi admits he looked up to Patrick Kane while he was growing up and now embraces being a role model to players like Easton Cowan. Mark Masters has more on what tips were being shared ahead of the Leafs contest with the Red Wings. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Craig Berube<\/a> pulled Joseph Woll<\/a> after the goalie allowed five goals on 29 shots in the first two periods of Monday\u2019s loss to the Minnesota Wild<\/a>. But the coach will go back to Woll once again on Wednesday against the Wings. <\/p>\n

\u201cTough game,\u201d Berube said of Monday\u2019s loss. \u201cWith the travel [back from the West] and everything, our team wasn\u2019t at our best. I don\u2019t think we gave him the opportunity to be successful in that game. He\u2019s been our guy, so that\u2019s why I\u2019m going with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The games are coming fast and furious, but Berube isn\u2019t concerned about Woll\u2019s workload. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not overly worried right now,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI think he\u2019s in a good place. We rotated on the road. I feel he\u2019s fine in that department.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woll and Dennis Hildeby<\/a> split the four starts during the recent road trip with Hildeby picking up the win on Saturday in Winnipeg. <\/p>\n

Woll has allowed 11 goals while losing his last two starts. Hildeby\u2019s save percentage (.912 in 19 games) is now better than Woll\u2019s (.910 in 20 games).<\/p>\n

John Gibson<\/a> (.902 save percentage in 30 games) gets the start for the Wings.<\/p>\n

‘He’s been our guy’: Woll starts again vs. Red Wings Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube says Joseph Woll will get the start tonight against the Red Wings and believes they didn’t give him much of a chance against the Wild. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Leafs, who are 2-2-1 in their last five games, enter Wednesday\u2019s game two points out of a playoff spot. <\/p>\n

\u201cHuge game,\u201d said Berube. \u201cYou gotta take a playoff-type approach to it. You don\u2019t want to get ahead of yourself. Just tonight\u2019s game, that\u2019s all that matters, but you gotta have that mindset, in my opinion, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Wings have won all three games against the Leafs and are eight points ahead of them in the Atlantic Division standings. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe got to get back to our game,\u201d said defenceman Troy Stecher<\/a>. \u201cKind of a one-off last game, and understanding the magnitude of tonight. Division rival and these points are crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n

After missing Tuesday\u2019s practice for maintenance, Stecher skated on Wednesday morning and is ready to play. <\/p>\n

Leafs bringing playoff approach to ‘huge game’ against Detroit The Maple Leafs discuss the significance of tonight’s matchup with one of the division frontrunners in Detroit. Toronto has lost all three meetings with the Red Wings so far this season. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Wings have missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons, but look poised to end that drought this year. <\/p>\n

Berube points to the development of Moritz Seider<\/a>, 24, and Simon Edvinsson<\/a>, 22, as a key part of the turnaround. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a certain amount of games defencemen need to play in the NHL before they\u2019re at a real good level,\u201d Berube said. \u201cAnd I think they\u2019re there. I think that pairing is excellent. It\u2019s big, skates, mobile, they do it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seider is averaging 25 minutes and 16 seconds of ice time per game, which ranks fifth overall. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a workhorse,\u201d said McLellan. \u201cIf we were rating our engines, he\u2019s the No. 1 engine on our team. He doesn\u2019t seem to tire. He doesn\u2019t wear down … He\u2019ll come off for a 15-second rest and then it\u2019s like he\u2019s ready to go again.\u201d<\/p>\n

McLellan notes that the respect for Seider is growing around the league. So, how much time does the German Olympian spend thinking about the potential to be in the Norris Trophy mix? <\/p>\n

\u201cZero times, to be honest,\u201d Seider said. \u201cThere\u2019s so much other stuff going on. I got plenty of work to do on the ice. I don\u2019t read any comments. I don\u2019t even read the standings. It\u2019s just too much noise from the outside. We play so many games and if I would check the standings I would see teams switching back and forth every single minute. So, it\u2019s not worth it and it\u2019s definitely not worth listening to any outsiders, in my opinion, because I know what\u2019s going on in this locker room and it\u2019s very special. I\u2019m just very proud to be a part of that team.\u201d <\/p>\n

Wings’ Seider spends ‘zero time’ thinking of Norris; doesn’t even look at standings Moritz Seider leads the Red Wings defence in scoring with 7 goals and 26 assists through 50 games. He admits he spends ‘zero time’ thinking about the Norris Trophy and doesn’t even look at the standings. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Projected Leafs lineup for Wednesday\u2019s game: <\/p>\n

McMann – Matthews – Domi<\/p>\n

Maccelli – Tavares – Knies<\/p>\n

Cowan – Roy – Robertson<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Laughton – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

McCabe – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n

Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n

Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

Woll starts <\/p>\n

Hildeby<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings held optional skates at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. — Patrick Kane…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421392,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4759,33999,33363,5,4,52507,32467],"class_list":{"0":"post-421391","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-apple-news","9":"tag-auston-matthews-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8479318","10":"tag-detroit-red-wings-sports-hockey-team-team-nhl-api-17","11":"tag-hockey","12":"tag-nhl","13":"tag-patrick-kane-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8474141","14":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs-sports-hockey-team-team-nhl-api-10"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/115937944740619481","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}