Chicago Blackhawks Lose to their Former Division Rivals; the Detroit Red Wings in an Exciting Back and Forth Battle

Jan 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) looks to get around Detroit Red Wings right wing Luke Glendening (41) during the second period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

In their first ever matchup, as interconference teams, the Detroit Red Wings were able to squeak out a 5-4 shootout victory, over the Chicago Blackhawks, in a see-saw affair.

The 1st period started off in a very back and forth fashion, with neither team really able to settle in, and drive the pace of the game.  However, at 8:41, of the 1st period, Marian Hossa was able to take advantage of an empty net, given up by Red Wings’ goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.  The goal continues Hossa’s hot streak, in which he has 8 points, in his last 6 games.  A couple more minutes of both teams struggling to grab hold of the pace, of the game, but it was the Hawks, who would strike again, on yet another net given up by Gustavsson.  This time, however, it was Andrew Shaw there to take advantage, and give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

The latter half of the 1st period would be all Red Wings, except for a few clutch Corey Crawford saves.  At 11:14, of the 1st, Tomas Tatar took advantage of a Johnny Oduya turnover, to bring the Wings closer, with the score 2-1.  Detroit began applying more pressure, throughout the rest of the 1st, and Patrick Eaves was able to tie the game at 2, off of another Oduya turnover.  The score would remain tied at 2, as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms, for the 1st intermission.

The 2nd period was more of the same, at first.  Neither team was able to control the game, at the puck drop, of the 2nd, that was until Drew Miller took an interference penalty, just under 5 minutes into the 2nd.  Right off the faceoff, Patrick Sharp rifled a slapshot past Gustavsson, for the Power Play goal, giving the Hawks a 3-2 lead.  Just over a minute later, the Hawks were unable to take the momentum and run, as Kyle Quincey was able to tie the game at 3, as he took advantage of a Hawks’ turnover.  The Hawks would seemingly start to be able to control the play, before they would get sloppy and cough up the puck, which is what lead to Gustav Nyquist did, to give the Wings a 4-3 lead, that would last to the end of the 2nd period.

The 3rd period started with some improved play, from the Hawks, and the 4th line was able to capitalize on a misplay, from Brendan Smith, as Marcus Kruger was able to tie the game up.  The Hawks would get chances on the Power Play, but sloppy and undisciplined play returned, and prevented them from taking the lead, and the the 3rd period would end, in a 4-4 tie, and the game was headed to overtime.

The Blackhawks really wish overtime lasted longer than 5 minutes, as they dominated the brief period, and just missed being able to steal a win, from the Wings.  However, no such luck, an the game headed to the shootout, to determine who would go home, with 2 points.

After an antsy 6-round shootout, the Red Wings were able to find an edge, on a Darren Helm wrist shot, to give the Red Wings the 5-4 shootout victory.

The Blackhawks will be right back at it, tomorrow night, as they travel to St. Paul, to take on their new division foe, the Minnesota Wild.  Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm Central time.