Blackhawks pick up series-tying Game 6 win over Red Wings

Bryan Bickell's goal was one of three the Blackhawks scored in the third period of Game 6. (Jen Hefner/MiHockey)

 

By Michael Caples –

DETROIT – Just when it was looking like a party was starting in Hockeytown, everything changed.

A goal from Michal Handzus 51 seconds into the third period tied it. Then a rebound goal from Bryan Bickell gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead.

The momentum swing would be all the Blackhawks needed to force a Game 7 back at their place.

Despite a late goal from Damien Brunner, a penalty-shot goal from Michael Frolik proved to be the difference-maker, with the Blackhawks securing a Game 7 at the United Center in Chicago Wednesday night with a 4-3 win.

Puck drops at 8 p.m. ET for the winner-take-all contest.

(Jen Hefner/MiHockey)

 

It will be the second Game 7 of the postseason for the Wings; coach Mike Babcock said that a whole lot more than that gives his team confidence heading into Wednesday night’s game.

“Well I even think tonight gives us a sense of confidence,” Babcock said. “It’s not like they came in here and squashed us or anything. They got what we gave them tonight, period, in my mind. If I would have told our whole team before this series, if I would have told Detroit and Michigan before this series, that we were going to be playing Chicago in Game 7, I think everyone would have been pretty excited about that. I love Game 7s. I’m excited about it. We’ve got a chance to push them out of the playoffs. Should be a lot of fun.”

Patrick Eaves, Joakim Andersson and Brunner had the goals for the Red Wings, who have now failed to eliminate the top-seeded Blackhawks in back-to-back games.

Chicago opened the scoring in Game 6 when former Red Wings forward Marian Hossa knocked in a rebound after Jonathan Toews drove the puck to the Red Wings’ goal.

(Jen Hefner/MiHockey)

 

With 1:09 remaining in the first period, Eaves managed to get his stick on the puck after a point shot from Drew Miller, tying the game and electrifying the Joe Louis Arena crowd.

The Wings’ momentum increased when Andersson sent a knucklepuck of a wrist shot towards Corey Crawford that fooled the Chicago netminder, and gave the Red Wings’ rookie his first goal of the playoffs.

But the Blackhawks took over in the third period.

“We lost our composure there for a bit and made some mistakes and the puck ended up in the back of our net,” Niklas Kronwall said.

Handzus scored to tie the game just 51 seconds into the final frame, as he was left all alone in front with plenty of time to beat Howard with a shot off the left post.

Bickell added a rebound goal to regain the lead for the Blackhawks.

Then, a questionable call on Carlo Colaiacovo gave Frolik a penalty shot, which he converted on to give the ‘Hawks a 4-2 lead.

“I don’t know,” Zetterberg said after the game. “You made a call…it looked weak from the bench, I don’t know if he had a good angle from where he was standing in the corner. But I think it was Cola who made just a good little poke on his glove, and he lost the puck, and a penalty shot.”

(Jen Hefner/MiHockey)

 

Brunner scored on a blast from the slot in the final minute of regulation, but it wasn’t enough for the Red Wings to mount a comeback.

Zetterberg agreed with a reporter’s comment that nothing has come easy for the Red Wings this season.

“Nope, it hasn’t,” the Wings’ captain said. “I think going into this series, we would say that we would have a chance to play a Game 7 in Chicago, we’d be pretty happy about it. We won three in a row, they came back with two here now, so I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a pretty good game in Chicago.”

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