The Blackhawks, once again, beat their rival Detroit Red Wings, but this time it was a much more excited and intense game.
This game had a playoff feel to it. Both teams played like the Cup was on the line, and because of that it earned its title as Game of the Week.
The Hawks came busting out of the gate and quickly took a 2-0 lead gaining all the momentum in the 1st period, but the momentum would rapidly shift throughout the whole game.
With the 1st period coming to an end Detroit needed an event to shift at least some of the momentum back to their side. With 49 seconds left in the 1st period that event happened. Nikolas Lidstrom put the puck in the back of the net, behind Niemi, and cut the lead to one.
It was a huge goal for the Red Wings and the players and crowd knew it. Detroit would even the score at two after a Henrik Zetterberg goal just ten minutes into the 2nd period, but Patrick Sharp answered back two minutes later, and put the Hawks up 3-2. The overall dislike of each other made each goal have a special meaning. Both teams didn’t want to just play well, they wanted to win.
The tension was rising at the beginning of the 3rd period. It would only increase as the game progressed. Each goalie made great save after great save. The Hawks were winning, but one goal just didn’t seem like it would be enough in this type of the game. It wasn’t. Detroit’s Patrick Eaves would even the score about half way into the 3rd period.
Both teams fought for the goal that would seal the deal, but it wouldn’t some in regulation. The game would have go to OT. In hockey OT is just like sudden death, first one to score wins. Saying that the OT gave me chills would be an understatement. It scared the crap out of me. Watching every shot thinking it could be the last really makes you not want to watch. After one of the most entertaining OT this year for the Hawks, the score still remained 3-3. It would have to be decided by a shootout.
The Hawks have never won in a shootout on the road. Paval Datsyuk would start it off for the Wings, and would trick Niemi by slowing down the puck and just lightly put the puck into the net.
Toews answered back for the Hawks with a bullet through Howard’s five-hole, Toews signature move in the shootouts.
Both Zetterberg and Patrick Kane would miss their shot, keeping the shootout goal tied at 1 a piece.
Todd Bertuzzi would score an amazing spin-o-rama goal leaving the game resting on former Red Wing, Marian Hossa’s shoulders. Hossa was getting booed every time he would touch the puck, and I couldn’t help think how ironic it was for him to be the deciding factor. Hossa needed a goal to keep the shootout alive, but if he missed Detroit would get the extra point, but most importantly the feeling of a rival win.
With everyone in the arena silent Hossa started his trek towards the goal. With a flick of the wrist the puck went flying past Howards left shoulder into the goal. The game wasn’t over yet.
Daniel Cleary would be denied by Niemi, giving the Hawks a chance to win the game.
The Hawks, again, controlled their fate. A goal would mean victory. The pressure was on. Patrick Sharp grabbed the puck, skated towards the net, shot the puck, and the red light behind the net went on. With that shot the Hawks had finally ended the game.
The Hawks grabbed the extra point and the lone spot on top of the Western Conference. It was a tough battle, but the Hawks prevailed cementing their dominance over the league.
Catch the Hawks in Ottawa Tuesday night at 6:30pm cst were they will try to keep their three game winning streak alive.
*Watch highlights from the Chicago-Detroit game here.
About Tyler Juranovich
