Chicago Blackhawks nips Detroit Red Wings by 3-2 in Overtime – NHL Updates
Marian Hossa gave Chicago Blackhawks a much needed win after he scored the game winning goal in overtime. Chicago became a little closer to securing a playoff spot as it defeated Red Wings by 3-2 on Monday at the sold out Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
"We are real desperate to get points," game-winner Hossa said.
Why would they not be? They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions and not making the playoffs this season would be utter embarrassment.
Starting their game below Anaheim by a point in the Western Conference, they were only above ninth place Calgary by the same brittle margin.
If Anaheim wins its game today with Colorado, then Chicago will fall back to the eighth spot again, ahead of Calgary this time by three points.
Chicago’s captain, Jonathan Toews, shot his 31st of the season and opened up the match early in the first period.
Nicklas Lidstrom answered nearly five minutes later as he scored his first in nine games to tie it up 1-1.
He got it past a bewildered Hawks’ goalie, Corey Crawford, who did not have a chance to even see the puck due to a good screen by Johan Franzen.
Brent Seabrook got the last say for Chicago during the first period by making a tie-breaker off a nice pass by Patrick Kane on Detroit’s third given power play.
Both goalies shutout their opposing teams during a scoreless second.
Crawford made 33 saves off 35 attempts. Detroit played backup goalie, Joey MacDonald, instead of Jimmy Howard, who blocked 38 shots.
Both teams were missing one of their leading forwards.
Red Wings were missing Pavel Datsyuk due to a lower-body injury which caused him to miss his fifth game in a row, while Blackhawks played their third game without Patrick Sharp who might be out for the rest of the regulation season because of a knee injury.
Detroit’s centre, Henrik Zetterberg, took advantage of Niklas Hjalmarsson being sent to the benches early and scored the game tying goal, forcing overtime in the end.
It was an inevitable OT as teams remained scoreless throughout.
Zetterberg, who gave his team an extra chance, put Chicago in the limelight when he was penalised for hooking Patrick Kane with four seconds remaining.
Zetterberg’s over carried penalty gave Hossa the advantage he needed, scoring in the opening 51 seconds to take the match.
"None bigger all year," Chicago Coach Joel Quenneville said. "That was a huge win, coming off a very disappointing loss. It was a playoff game for us."
Blackhawks cannot breathe a sigh of relief just yet.
They have tough competition in their upcoming match on Tuesday when they fly to Boston to face the third placed Bruins.
Detroit has clinched a playoff spot but they’re not secure in their conference positioning with San Jose on their tail with 97 points, just shy by one to tie it for second place.
They host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
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