Copyright M Live Michigan
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings missed Patrick Kane’s scoring ability at times, particularly on the power play. But overall, they dealt well with his absence. Kane could return to the lineup as soon as Friday against the New York Rangers (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Extra), after practicing with the team Thursday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Oct. 17. Coach Todd McLellan said Kane looked good in practice but his availability for the game will be determined after the morning skate. Kane skated with usual linemates Marco Kasper and Alex DeBrincat in practice and manned his usual spot on the right flank on the top power-play unit. Kane was off to a good start with two goals and five points in five games before crashing into the boards in overtime during a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay. The Red Wings (9-5-0) went 5-4-0 without him, but McLellan was asked what they missed. “One, he’s Patrick Kane. Two, he’s very competitive. Three, he handles the puck well and sees things,” McLellan said. “He’s got the ability to play fast or slow. He finishes off that line well when they’re playing well. Cat, I thought on the trip had some good looks, some good shots produced. I think there’s more in Marco Kasper. (Mason Appleton) did an admirable job when he was up there, but (Kane) just finishes that line off. And certainly, the power play, he’s a guy that a lot of it runs through.” Kane said he felt good after practice. “You never really know once you get into it, so I’m happy that I was able to participate and go the whole way,” he said. “A lot of skating the past couple weeks, working out. It kind of felt like a couple weeks of summer training. I think my conditioning should be there and shouldn’t drop off too much.” He is encouraged by the team’s start to the season, including the just-concluded road trip (3-2-0). “We found some ways to win on the road trip, get some extra points, which is good. That was important coming into the year,” Kane said. “People want to talk about playoffs and different things like that. I think the focus more in here was just about getting off to a good start and putting ourselves into a good position. I think we got to be happy with where we’re at. It’s can we contain it for the rest of the way?” Kane was also frustrated to miss this much time during an Olympic season. NHL players will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 and Kake hopes to be selected to Team USA for the third time. “It’s brutal,” he said. “You look forward to starting the season, getting through the summer, getting through training camp, and then the games come, and all of a sudden, five games in, you’re missing some time. Not a great feeling, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
