Chicago, Illinois: The Detroit Red Wings spotted the Chicago Blackhawks an early lead then struck for four unanswered goals to claim a 4-1 win yesterday and even their Western Conference semi-final at a game each.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to Detroit for two games with Game Three set for tomorrow at Joe Louis Arena.
Jimmy Howard was rock solid in the Detroit net, facing 20 shots, and the Red Wings scored twice in each of the second and third periods after surrendering a first period goal to Chicago’s Patrick Kane.
Damien Brunner, with his fourth of the post-season and Brendan Smith both beat Corey Crawford in the second as Detroit seized control of the contest 2-1.
“I thought we played really well tonight, we did a lot of good things, getting pucks deep and pressuring their D (defence) and just making better decisions with the puck,” said Smith. “It’s a team win, the whole team played a lot better.
“The competition level just bumps up so much more from the regular season. The speed and competition level is so much higher.”
Detroit kept up the pressure in the third period, Johan Franzen beating Crawford on the short side with a placed shot before Valtteri Filppula completed the scoring with a nifty backhand.
Meanwhile, Logan Couture scored early in overtime to help the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 victory over the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in Game Three of the NHL’s Western Conference semi-finals.
The Sharks clawed back into the best of seven series after Couture took advantage of a power play penalty just 1:29 into the extra period.
The Kings’ Robyn Regehr (hooking) and Trevor Lewis (interference) were both penalised inside the final minute of regulation to give San Jose a five-on-three situation into overtime.
While they failed to score with a two-man advantage, Couture rammed home a chance while still in the five-on-four powerplay from a Patrick Marleau pass to send the home crowd into rapture as they dragged themselves back into the series.
Dan Boyle had given the Sharks a dream start with a goal after just 94 seconds but Tyler Toffoli cancelled it out with a goal in the first period. REUTERS
