1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DET | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
CHI | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Detroit falls to second seed in West
CHICAGO (AP) -- Although they failed to make the postseason for
the fifth time in six years, the Chicago Blackhawks still managed
to impact the playoffs and disappoint the Stanley Cup champions.
Tyler Arnason scored 2:10 into overtime, lifting the Blackhawks
to a 4-3 victory against Detroit and denying the Red Wings first
place in the Western Conference on Sunday.
Detroit finished with 110 points, one fewer than Pacific
Division-champion Dallas. The Stars beat Nashville on Sunday. The
Red Wings closed the regular season 21-4-1-1 in its last 27 games.
They lost once in their final six games (5-1-2).
Arnason picked up a drop pass from Kyle Calder at the blue line
and fired a shot from the far circle that beat goalie Curtis
Joseph.
"I was just trying to get between Lidstrom's legs because the
goalie probably couldn't see it,'' Arnason said. "I think it
nicked him and went in. I had no idea where I was shooting it.''
Chicago rallied on goals by Eric Daze and Igor Radulov and
eventually overtook its Central Division rivals.
Detroit center Sergei Fedorov was surprised that his
short-handed tally -- his 400th NHL goal -- midway through the third
period didn't seal the victory for the Red Wings.
"I thought we were full throttle by that time and we were going
strong,'' Fedorov said. "We were going forward and playing well.''
But just 46 seconds later, Daze scored his second goal of the
game to force overtime. Daze's spin around attempt from 40 feet
fooled Joseph and bounced in off the short-side post.
"It's a game after all, and unfortunately things like that
happen and they scored,'' Fedorov added. "Kind of a difficult goal
for us to swallow. From the blue line it just sort of flipped
toward the net, found the post and then in.''
Detroit was 21-4-1-1 in its last 27 games and lost only once in
its last eight contests (5-1-2).
Chicago was unbeaten in its final four games (2-0-2) but
finished the season series against Detroit 3-0-0-2.
Despite missing the playoffs in his second year, Chicago coach
Brian Sutter was proud of the effort his team showed, especially
after falling behind several times.
"The way these guys played, and (goalie Michael) Leighton was
very good, it says something,'' Sutter said. "We've been in these
kinds of games all year. The score doesn't really affect us. That
shows the mental makeup of our team.''
Kirk Maltby opened the scoring at 6:49 of the first. After a
30-foot shot, Maltby gathered his own rebound in the slot and beat
Leighton.
Luc Robitaille put the Red Wings up by 2-0 just 23 seconds
later. Mathieu Dandenault found Robitaille driving to the net for a
one-timed goal.
Eric Daze's goal at 8:44 of the first brought Chicago within
2-1. Nathan Dempsey's shot from the far circle deflected off Daze's
skate and over Curtis Joseph's right shoulder.
Igor Radulov's power-play goal tied it at 2 early in the third
period. Steve Sullivan's wraparound attempt was stopped by Joseph,
but Radulov fought two Red Wings for the rebound and fired in a
high wrist shot.
Fedorov's short-handed tally at 11:45 of the third put Detroit
back on top 3-2. Fedorov picked up a loose puck at center ice and
went in on a breakaway. He beat Leighton high on the stick side for
his 400th NHL goal.
Daze's second goal of the game made it 3-3 46 seconds later.
Daze's spin around attempt from 40 feet fooled Joseph and bounced
in off the short-side post.
Kris Draper appeared to score with 5:32 remaining in the third,
but the goal was disallowed after the video judge ruled Draper
kicked the puck in.
"It was kicked in,'' Detroit coach Dave Lewis said. "I just
saw the replay briefly and it looked like it was kicked in.''
Tomas Holmstron had a clean shot to win the game with just over
two minutes remaining, but his forehand attempt deflected off the
post.
The sellout crowd of 21,565 was Chicago's largest this season.
All three of Chicago's sellouts were against Detroit. Much of the
crowd was rooting for the visiting Red Wings.
Game notes
Darren McCarty played in his 600 NHL game. ... Chicago RW
Theo Fleury was scratched. He was struck on the right cheekbone by
a puck in Friday night's game against St. Louis. ... Chris Chelios,
traded from Chicago to Detroit four years ago, was booed every time
he touched the puck.
Regular Season Series
CHI Wins 3-2
Game Information
- Referees:
- Eric Furlatt
- Rob Shick
- Linesmen:
- Andy McElman
- Dan Schachte