Patrick Kane dazzles in his return to Chicago and you couldn't write a better script

It was an emotional start in Chicago on Sunday afternoon, with legend Chris Chelios seeing his No. 7 hoisted to the rafters. Chelios spent nine seasons with the Blackhawks before spending the next ten with the Detroit Red Wings, where he'd go on to win two Stanley Cups. Before joining the Hawks, Chelios played with Montreal, where he won his first cup and ended his 27-year career with Atlanta.

Sunday was also star forward Patrick Kane's first time back since being traded to the New York Rangers ahead of the trade deadline last season. Chelios acknowledged Kane during his speech, and the future Hall Of Famer was greeted with a massive ovation. Chelios joked that the Red Wings jersey looks a little funny on Kane, but not to worry, it will grow on you, and it will all work out in the end. Chelios also referred to Kane as the best American-born player and said he'd have his day in Chicago when his No. 88 gets retired. The Red Wings, who so often do the right thing when it comes to sentimental things, made sure Kane wore an 'A' on his sweater for this game.

During the first commercial break, the Chicago Blackhawks ran a tremendous video tribute to Patrick Kane, leaving many hockey fans, including Micky Redmond, somewhat choked up.

Unlike a former Detroit bench boss, Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde always seems to understand the situation. Lalonde made sure that Kane not only wore an 'A,' but he started Kane and Alex DeBrincat flanking Dylan Larkin to begin the game.

The Detroit Red Wings handled their business on an emotional night at the United Center.

On a night that was jammed with emotion, the Detroit Red Wings had yet another important two points to acquire. Earlier in the day, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New Jersey Devils, and at this point in the season, the Red Wings need to keep pace. On the one hand, it's nice to see New Jersey lose, knowing they are one of the many teams nipping at Detroit's heels in the exciting/tight Eastern Conference Wild Card race. But, for Detroit, it's unfortunate that it comes at the expense of a Tampa Bay victory.

Detroit struggled to find their legs on Sunday night, which isn't unusual on the second of a back-to-back. Still, Detroit was lucky to beat an inferior opponent with points at a premium for the remainder of the season.

Detroit opened the scoring late in the first period thanks to a goal from Daniel Sprong, his 16th of the season. It was a quick shot on a feed from Christian Fischer. Robby Fabbri won a puck battle along the wall moments before and worked it out to Fischer, who quickly sent it over to a waiting Sprong. The Blackhawks got goals from MacKenzie Entwistle and Nick Foligno.

The Entwistle tally came after a horrible sequence of turnovers from the Red Wings. Shayne Gostisbehere struggled with the puck as the offensive blue line, Fabbri turned it over on the same shift, and Fischer failed to control a pass that ricocheted off his skate and led to the Blackhawks odd man rush. The Foligno goal came on the power play. Connor Bedard ripped a shot from the top of the circle that hit Foligno's arm and redirected straight down and between James Reimer's legs; as Micky Redmond said, he had no chance. Detroit would answer late in the third period thanks to former Hawk DeBrincat scoring at what feels like an impossible angle down below the goal line. He banked it in on former Red Wing Petr Mrazek. Kane and Gostisbehere assisted on the goal. Moments before the tying goal, James Reimer made a massive save on Connor Bedard, who skated in alone on a breakaway.

As this game headed to overtime, you couldn't write a better script. Patrick Kane ended up breaking in all alone on a breakaway to seal it. Unreal. A massive two points for the Red Wings.

The Red Wings and Lightning continue to flip-flop between the first and second wild card position, but following Sunday's contest, Detroit remains with two games in hand. Detroit's next two games are against the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders; both like the Devils right in the thick of things, trailing the Lightning and Red Wings by just a few victories. The Red Wings can separate themselves from the pack if they continue their hot streak this week.