Blackhawks Top Wings, Stay Alive in West

[April 03, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Blackhawks rookie Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Chicago beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 on Wednesday night to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

The Blackhawks, who won their third straight, must win their final two games to have any chance of reaching the postseason. Chicago has missed the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons.

Kane reclaimed the NHL rookie scoring lead, moving two points ahead of Washington's Nicklas Backstrom.

Cam Barker, Jordan Hendry, Robert Lang, Dustin Byfuglien and Adam Burish also scored for the Blackhawks, who dealt the Red Wings their first regulation loss in seven games (5-1-1) and prevented them from claiming the Presidents' Trophy and the top overall seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Detroit needs just one point in its final two games to secure home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Henrik Zetterberg and Kirk Maltby scored for the Red Wings.

The Blackhawks scored three times on their first six shots in a 1:59 span early in the first period to take control and chase starting goalie Dominik Hasek.

Chris Osgood relieved Hasek and allowed three goals on 22 shots.

Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin made 26 saves.

Barker's power-play goal opened the scoring 5:53 in. His screened shot from the left point sailed past Hasek's glove.

At 6:36, Hendry scored his first NHL goal, also through a screen, to make it 2-0. Following a faceoff, he connected from the left circle.

Lang extended Chicago's lead to 3-0 at 7:52, ripping Dave Bolland's cross-ice feed past Hasek. Osgood stepped in immediately after the goal.

Zetterberg's screened power-play goal with 5:40 left in the first cut it to 3-1.

Byfuglien's power-play score at 3:13 of the second made it 4-1. He fired in a one-timed shot from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Kane.

Following a turnover, Maltby converted his own rebound at 6:10 to cut the Red Wings' deficit to 4-2. But Kane tipped in Duncan Keith's feed 1:29 later to make it 5-2.

Set up by Kane, Burish completed the scoring with 4:19 left.

Notes: The crowd of 21,365 was the Blackhawks' 11th home sellout of the season. ... Chicago LW Ben Eager missed his 12th game due to a shoulder injury. ... Detroit C Kris Draper sat out because of a groin injury. Red Wings RW Mikael Samuelsson missed his third, also due to a sore groin. LW Tomas Holmstrom missed his 12th because of an abdominal injury. ... Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Ernie Banks, who starred for the Chicago Cubs, dropped the ceremonial first puck.

[Associated Press]

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