Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 1
Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 1: Defenseman Johnny Oduya snapped a tie at 8:02 of the third period as top-seeded Chicago captured the opener of its Western Conference second-round series against visiting Detroit.
Patrick Sharp recorded an empty-net goal and two assists and former Red Wing Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger also scored. Corey Crawford made 20 saves for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blackhawks, who have won eight consecutive meetings with their Original Six - and Central Division - rivals. Chicago hosts Game 2 on Saturday.
Sharp made a pass from along the left-wing boards to Oduya, who moved down from the left point and beat Jimmy Howard high to the glove side for his second goal of the postseason and a 2-1 lead. Kruger created breathing room 3:21 later, lifting a backhander past Howard from the low slot after Daniel Carcillo chipped the puck off the back of the net.
Damien Brunner netted his third playoff goal and Howard turned aside 38 shots for the seventh-seeded Red Wings, who have scored a total of six goals in their five losses to the Blackhawks in 2013.
Hossa opened the scoring during a power play 9:03 into the contest as he one-timed a feed from captain Jonathan Toews past Howard from the top of the slot for his fourth tally. Detroit pulled even just 1:54 later, when Brunner buried a loose puck at the left side of the net after Crawford denied his initial shot from the faceoff circle and defenseman Brent Seabrook blocked his second attempt.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Sharp's empty-netter in the final minute of the third period was his team-leading sixth playoff goal. ... The Red Wings have been outscored 15-5 in the third period this postseason. ... Chicago improved to 4-0 at home in the playoffs. ... C Cory Emmerton replaced RW Mikael Samuelsson in Detroit's lineup. ... LW Viktor Stalberg remained in coach Joel Quenneville's doghouse as he was a healthy scratch. Stalberg did not have a spot on Chicago's top four lines during team practices following its first-round series win over Minnesota.