Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 3
Danny Cleary's game-winner lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over host Chicago on Sunday, preventing the Blackhawks from locking up the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Cleary scored his 26th goal of the season 8:11 into the third period to give Detroit a 4-2 lead, and the Wings (47-25-10) held on from there. Third-seeded Detroit will face the sixth-seeded Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The loss may have been a disastrous one for the defending-champion Blackhawks (44-29-9), who remain in eighth spot in the West. If the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild in regulation in the final game of the NHL's regular season later Sunday, Dallas will pass Chicago and knock the Blackhawks out of the playoff picture. A Dallas loss or shootout victory, and Chicago advances.
Whichever team moves on will be rewarded with a first-round matchup against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks.
Michael Frolik gave Chicago a 1-0 lead 5:18 into the second period, but goals by Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk 1:02 apart later in the period put Detroit ahead for good. Chicago pressed for the late equalizer, but managed just one shot on a late power-play and didn't fare any better with the net empty in favor of an extra attacker.
Drew Miller had the other goal for the Red Wings. Defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith countered for Chicago.