Detroit Red Wings’ goalie Jimmy Howard is unable to stop a shot from Chicago Blackhawks’ centre Patrick Sharp (not pictured) on a Chicago goal in the second period during Game 7 of their NHL Western Conference semi-final hockey play-off in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday.
CHICAGO: Brett Seabrook scored 3:35 into overtime to give Chicago a 2-1 victory over Detroit yesterday as the Blackhawks stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to win their quarter-final series in seven games.
Defenseman Seabrook collected a loose puck in the neutral zone then carried it into the Red Wings end before firing a wrist shot that beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard to the glove side. Seabrook’s shot appeared to change direction slightly after it hit the left leg of Red Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall.
“I was just trying to step up. The coach has been telling us defence to jump into the play. I felt like I got a lot of room and I just tried to shoot it,” Seabrook said.
Chicago advances to the semi-finals to face the defending National Hockey League champion Los Angeles Kings, who also needed a game seven to punch their ticket by beating the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
Chicago opens their Western Conference series against the Kings on Saturday at home.
The Hawks or Kings will meet the winner of the other semi-final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup title. Their best-of-seven series also gets underway tomorrow.
After taking game one, Chicago lost three straight to the seventh-seeded Red Wings to trail 3-1 in the series. But Chicago fought back recording a 4-1 win at home ice in game five and then tied the series at 3-3 with Monday’s 4-3 victory on the road.
Dave Bolland helped spring Seabrook free on the winner by placing a big hit on Detroit’s Gustav Nyquist.
That opened up the middle of the ice for former Lethbridge Hurricane Seabrook who moved the puck quickly towards the Detroit goal then got the fortunate bounce off Kronwall.
Seabrook sai: “Kronwall is like me, he likes to block a lot of pucks so I was just trying to get it past him. REUTERS
