DETROIT (Interstat) — Patrick Kane became the 50th player in NHL history to score 500 goals, highlighting the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. The 37-year-old winger scored his milestone goal into an empty net with 3:53 remaining for his second of the game before an announced crowd of 18,425. J.T. Compher, Lucas Raymond and Axel Sandin-Pellikka also scored for Detroit, which improved to 26-19. John Gibson made 25 saves. Jake DeBrusk scored for Vancouver in the second period. The Canucks dropped to 16-27 overall. Detroit, a pregame favorite, controlled play throughout, outshooting Vancouver and capitalizing on special teams.

DETROIT (Interstat) — Patrick Kane became the 50th player in NHL history to score 500 goals, reaching the milestone with an empty-netter late in the third period to cap a dominant performance by the Detroit Red Wings in a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. The historic moment came with 3 minutes and 53 seconds remaining at Little Caesars Arena, sealing the win before an announced crowd of 18,425. The 37-year-old Kane, a native of Buffalo, New York, is the fifth U.S.-born player to achieve the feat, joining Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513) and Joe Mullen (502). He also added a first-period goal, finishing with two on the night. Detroit, which improved to 26-19 overall, controlled play from the outset and never trailed. The Red Wings opened the scoring with just 29 seconds left in the first period. Kane’s initial milestone bid was denied, but he collected the rebound and fired a wrist shot past Vancouver goaltender Kevin Lankinen for his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings extended their lead early in the second period. At the 10:09 mark, defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka netted his fifth of the year with a wrist shot, with helpers from James van Riemsdyk and J.T. Compher. Vancouver, which fell to 16-27, found a brief response midway through the middle frame. Jake DeBrusk snapped a wrist shot past Detroit netminder John Gibson at 14:03 for his 12th goal, assisted by Kiefer Sherwood and Brock Boeser. It was the Canucks’ lone offensive highlight on a night where they managed just 26 shots. Detroit quickly re-established its two-goal cushion before the period ended. Compher scored his fifth of the season at 20:10, converting a feed from van Riemsdyk, who earned his second assist of the night, with Sandin-Pellikka also getting a helper. The third period belonged to the Red Wings, who added two more for good measure. Following a Vancouver turnover, Kane intercepted a clearing attempt at the blue line and calmly fired the puck into the vacant net from his own zone at 16:07 of the final period, triggering a standing ovation for his 500th career goal. Andrew Copp was credited with the assist. Lucas Raymond rounded out the scoring just over two minutes later, at 18:10, taking advantage of another Canucks giveaway to beat Lankinen with a wrist shot for his 13th goal, an unassisted tally. Gibson was stellar in net for Detroit, stopping 25 of 26 shots for the win. Lankinen made 30 saves on 34 shots for Vancouver before being pulled for the extra attacker late. Beyond Kane’s historic night, the Red Wings received multi-point efforts from Compher (one goal, one assist), Raymond (one goal, one assist) and van Riemsdyk (two assists). Larkin, Detroit’s captain, had a busy night with an assist and a game-high seven shots on goal. The game was a special teams struggle for both sides, with each team failing to capitalize on two power-play opportunities. Vancouver’s penalty kill was perfect, but its power play continued to sputter. The victory continued a positive trend for Detroit, which has won three of its last four games. The loss extended a difficult stretch for the Canucks, who have dropped seven of their last eight contests. The teams have now split their two meetings this season, with Detroit having shut out Vancouver 4-0 in British Columbia on Dec. 8. Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot was a physical presence, registering four hits. For Vancouver, DeBrusk’s goal was a rare bright spot in an otherwise quiet offensive showing from the club’s top players. The Red Wings’ top line of Larkin, Raymond and Alex DeBrincat applied consistent pressure, while the defensive pairing of Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson was effective in limiting time and space for Vancouver’s forwards. National Statistical’s game simulator had projected a 5-2 Detroit victory, closely mirroring the actual result. The Red Wings were installed as pregame favorites with a spread of -1.5, which they covered. The total of six goals went over the closing over/under line of 5.5. Detroit next travels to face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Vancouver continues its road trip with a visit to the Toronto Maple Leafs, also on Saturday.

Red Wings Host Struggling Canucks in Detroit DETROIT (Interstat) — The Detroit Red Wings will look to capitalize on home ice and continue their push in the standings when they host the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. The teams enter on divergent trajectories. Detroit (25-19-0) sits in a playoff position and is coming off a 5-3 road victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday. Vancouver (16-25-0) is mired near the bottom of the league and has lost three straight, including a 3-2 overtime defeat to Boston last Saturday. The Red Wings have been strong at home lately, winning four of their last five at Little Caesars Arena. They also dominated the Canucks in their only previous meeting this season, a 4-0 shutout in Vancouver on Dec. 8. A key player for Detroit is veteran forward James van Riemsdyk, who is riding a hot streak. He recorded a goal and two assists in the win over Ottawa and has points in three of his last four games, including four goals in that span. Vancouver will lean on center Elias Pettersson to spark its offense. Pettersson scored a goal in the recent loss to Boston and has points in two of his last three games. However, the Canucks have allowed 19 goals in their last four contests, highlighting a defensive vulnerability Detroit will aim to exploit. The Red Wings’ recent success has been bolstered by balanced scoring and timely goaltending. John Gibson made 35 saves in the Ottawa win. Vancouver, conversely, has struggled to find consistency and will need a sharper defensive effort to slow Detroit’s attack. Following this game, the Canucks continue a six-game road trip in Toronto on Saturday. The Red Wings begin a brief two-game trip in Montreal on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.