Chicago Blackhawks Fans Will Love Patrick Kane No Matter What

On a star-studded night, it was the Chicago Blackhawks' biggest star who came up with the grandest moment--for the other team.

Blackhawks legend Patrick Kane, now with the hated Detroit Red Wings, returned to the United Center ice for the first time since he was traded to the New York Rangers before last year's trade deadline. He provided the United Center with another legendary moment when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Talk about a storybook ending to such a huge night.

Earlier in the day, the Chicago Blackhawks officially retired legendary defenseman, Chris Chelios' No. 7 in a pregame ceremony. That brought out stars like Wayne Gretzky, Theo Epstein, Eddie Vedder, and Dennis Rodman to the game. Cindy Crawford even scored a goal during the second intermission's Shoot the Puck. For those of a younger generation, she was like Sydney Sweeney of the 1990s without the acting credits.

It was 88 who stole the show while wearing a Red Wings sweater.

The reaction he got shows we still love Patrick Kane no matter who he plays for and what he does to his former team.

The Blackhawks played a video tribute to their greatest player coming out of the first period's initial television timeout.

There must not have been a dry eye in the building after seeing that. Kane had to take three curtain calls before play could resume.

When he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, the place went nuts and Kane got another round of praise for beating his former team.

It just goes to show you, that Patrick Kane has not ruined his Blackhawks' legacy by signing with the rival Red Wings during this season with the Blackhawks.

You get that sort of grace when you score the game-winning game to clinch the team's first Stanley Cup in 49 years as Kane did in 2010. He also gets all the love and respect for winning three Stanley Cups, the Conn Smythe, the Calder Trophy, and the Hart Trophy.

Most importantly, Kaner was a big reason folks came back to being Blackhawks fans after the dark days of the 2000s under then-owner Bill Wirtz. It took his death, his son Rocky Wirtz taking over, and putting home games on television to help draw fans back.

It was Kane and Jonathan Toews who were the draws. Kane was Showtime in that duo.

He provided a heartbreaking moment to the Hawks like he did so many times for the Blackhawks. By the reaction he got, you would have never known he beat the Blackhawks. Maybe, it is also because he prevented the Blackhawks from getting two points in the standings and losing their lead in the Tankathon.com/NHL standings.