Cristobal Huet looks on after Detroit scores one of its five second period goals. ( Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images / March 7, 2010By Chris Carrano
The Red Wings tightened their grip on the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 yesterday afternoon. Detroit went on a five-goal surge in the second period and despite a hat trick from Andrew Ladd, held on to defeat their Original Six and divisional rival.
It was a win that the Red Wings desperately needed. After being decimated with injuries for the first half of the season, they seem to be regaining their winning touch. The Olympic break couldn’t have come at a better time for them, as most of their players are once again healthy. Detroit has won three of their last four games since returning from the break.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Red Wings netted five straight goals in a span of 6:15. Team USA hero Brian Rafalski started it off when he one-timed a Nicklas Lidstrom pass by Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet. Lidstrom then added his own tally 28 seconds later to tie the game, with help from Todd Bertuzzi who provided an effective screen in front of the net.
Detroit then added another pair of quick goals to chase Huet from the goal. Huet left the left side of his goal exposed as he geared up to defend a shot from Henrik Zetterberg who was racing in from the left faceoff circle. Instead Zetterberg passed the puck to Jason Williams who managed to poke it in the practically empty net despite being swarmed by a pair of Blackhawks defenders. Valtteri Filppula put the nail in Huet’s coffin 42 seconds later, scoring on a partial breakaway.
"I'm not blaming Huet there," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "I called the timeout and that didn't seem to slow it down. (Detroit) got two tips on cross-ice passes."
Andrew Ladd did his best to get the Blackhawks and the sellout crowd at the United Center back in the game by recording his first career hat trick. It was too little, too late as Detroit was able to hang on, regardless of coach Mike Babcock’s assessment of how his team played. “We thought we played well in the first period and took control of the game in the second period and then I thought we stopped playing in the third,” said Babcock. “I don’t know if we got scared to keep playing, or what. I thought we got fortunate to get away with a win, but I liked our effort for 40 minutes.”
Although they sit comfortably atop the Western Conference standings, many will question whether or not the Blackhawks goaltending will get them far in the post-season. Lets face it, says Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago, Hawks fans have as much confidence in [Huet and Niemi] in the playoffs as commuters do in the CTA. You know a train will probably come, and nine times out of 10 your ride will be fine, but you're not surprised when things break down. You swear and stamp your feet, but you knew it was possible all along.
The Red Wings however seem to be ticking upwards. Despite losing Todd Bertuzzi this afternoon to an apparent Charlie horse, the Red Wings have bounced back from all the injury woes that plagued them for much of this season. They are clicking on all cylinders and after a four-game losing streak in February, they have won four of their last five games, scoring 20 goals in the process. A healthy Red Wings team would be a menace in the playoffs. Mike Babcock shares the same sentiment: “The good teams in the league, are hoping that we don’t get into the seventh and eighth spot.”
It was a win that the Red Wings desperately needed. After being decimated with injuries for the first half of the season, they seem to be regaining their winning touch. The Olympic break couldn’t have come at a better time for them, as most of their players are once again healthy. Detroit has won three of their last four games since returning from the break.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Red Wings netted five straight goals in a span of 6:15. Team USA hero Brian Rafalski started it off when he one-timed a Nicklas Lidstrom pass by Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet. Lidstrom then added his own tally 28 seconds later to tie the game, with help from Todd Bertuzzi who provided an effective screen in front of the net.
Detroit then added another pair of quick goals to chase Huet from the goal. Huet left the left side of his goal exposed as he geared up to defend a shot from Henrik Zetterberg who was racing in from the left faceoff circle. Instead Zetterberg passed the puck to Jason Williams who managed to poke it in the practically empty net despite being swarmed by a pair of Blackhawks defenders. Valtteri Filppula put the nail in Huet’s coffin 42 seconds later, scoring on a partial breakaway.
"I'm not blaming Huet there," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "I called the timeout and that didn't seem to slow it down. (Detroit) got two tips on cross-ice passes."
Andrew Ladd did his best to get the Blackhawks and the sellout crowd at the United Center back in the game by recording his first career hat trick. It was too little, too late as Detroit was able to hang on, regardless of coach Mike Babcock’s assessment of how his team played. “We thought we played well in the first period and took control of the game in the second period and then I thought we stopped playing in the third,” said Babcock. “I don’t know if we got scared to keep playing, or what. I thought we got fortunate to get away with a win, but I liked our effort for 40 minutes.”
Although they sit comfortably atop the Western Conference standings, many will question whether or not the Blackhawks goaltending will get them far in the post-season. Lets face it, says Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago, Hawks fans have as much confidence in [Huet and Niemi] in the playoffs as commuters do in the CTA. You know a train will probably come, and nine times out of 10 your ride will be fine, but you're not surprised when things break down. You swear and stamp your feet, but you knew it was possible all along.
The Red Wings however seem to be ticking upwards. Despite losing Todd Bertuzzi this afternoon to an apparent Charlie horse, the Red Wings have bounced back from all the injury woes that plagued them for much of this season. They are clicking on all cylinders and after a four-game losing streak in February, they have won four of their last five games, scoring 20 goals in the process. A healthy Red Wings team would be a menace in the playoffs. Mike Babcock shares the same sentiment: “The good teams in the league, are hoping that we don’t get into the seventh and eighth spot.”
AROUND THE NHL
Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins was carried off the ice on a stretcher yesterday after being blindisded by the Penguins’ Matt Cooke. Cooke came from behind, raised his shoulder, and struck him in the head.
"It's pretty obvious that was definitely a dirty hit," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "That's probably the classic blindside hit to the head ... I'm usually reserved in making comments, but definitely the league will take care of it."
No penalty was called on the hit, which angered the Bruins. Cooke stated that he was only finishing his check, but TV replays appeared to show otherwise. He had plenty of time to pull up and not hit Savard, but instead he pulled a Donald Brashear on him.
"A guy like that has to be suspended," Julien said. "That's the way I see it because it's an elbow to the head from the blindside, and that's exactly the example they show, what we've got to get out of this game. We got a guy who's got a concussion, our best player, and he's going to be out for a while. He was out on the ice for a bit and that's unacceptable."
Savard stayed behind at the team hotel in Pittsburgh, along with a member of the Bruins medical staff.
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Reebok Canada is offering a $10,000 reward for the return of the stick and gloves that Sidney Crosby used to score the gold medal-winning goal at the Olympics. The equipment went missing after Crosby dropped it to the ice to celebrate his goal. "The stick and glove are priceless," said Len Rhodes, vice president and general manager for Reebok Hockey CCM. "There's absolutely no substitute for that exact stick and glove."
Crosby’s black stick has special markings on it that will help identify it. If the equipment is found, it would be returned to Crosby and it would be his choice as to whether he wants to keep it or donate it.
Information and quotes from ESPN.com, NHL.com and the Detroit Free Press was used in this story
SCORES (Home Team in CAPS)
Pittsburgh 2, BOSTON 1
Vancouver 4, NASHVILLE 2
Calgary 5, MINNESOTA 2
Carolina 4, ATLANTA 0
Buffalo 2, NY RANGERS 1 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA 3, Toronto 1
EDMONTON 2, New Jersey 1
Montreal 4, ANAHEIM 3 (SO)
Vancouver 4, NASHVILLE 2
Calgary 5, MINNESOTA 2
Carolina 4, ATLANTA 0
Buffalo 2, NY RANGERS 1 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA 3, Toronto 1
EDMONTON 2, New Jersey 1
Montreal 4, ANAHEIM 3 (SO)
TONIGHTS GAMES
Dallas @ Washington 7pm EST
Columbus @ Los Angeles 10:30 pm EST
Columbus @ Los Angeles 10:30 pm EST
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