CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Detroit Red Wings rode five second-period goals to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday afternoon, bouncing back from a 2-0 deficit and holding off a third-period comeback by Chicago.
The Red Wings got goals from Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Jason Williams and Valtteri Filppula in a 6:15 span and one more from Pavel Datsyuk in the final seconds of the middle frame.
Rafalski put Detroit on the board at 4:12 of the second, blasting a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle past Chicago netminder Cristobal Huet while the Wings skated with a four-on-three advantage.
Just 28 seconds later Lidstrom tied the game, rifling a shot right down the slot and past Huet, through a screen by Todd Bertuzzi.
Williams put the Red Wings out in front at 9:45 of the period. Henrik Zetterberg threw the puck to the front of the net from the bottom of the left circle and Williams - covered by two Blackhawks and falling to the ice - tipped it into the open side of the net.
Filppula extended the lead 42 seconds later beating Huet after getting the puck from Bertuzzi on a two-on-one.
Antti Niemi replaced Huet in the Chicago crease after Filppula's goal and was beaten on a breakaway by Datsyuk with two seconds remaining in the period. Datsyuk stole the puck from Patrick Kane in the Detroit end of the ice with nine seconds left, broke in on Niemi, and beat him with a backhand shot.
The Blackhawks had opened the game's scoring 4:24 into the opening period. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard directed the rebound of a Brent Seabrook shot straight to Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith, who fired a shot that deflected off of Rafalski's leg and past Howard.
Andrew Ladd made it a 2-0 game with 8:23 left in the first, snapping a shot from the right faceoff dot past Howard off a giveaway by Filppula.
The Blackhawks thought they had made it 3-0 early in the second period but a power play goal was called back for goaltender interference, one of the game's several contested plays around the creases.
Ladd resumed Chicago's scoring 1:59 into the third period on a similar shot after the Red Wings failed to clear their own end.
To complete the hat trick and pull Chicago to within a goal, Ladd tipped a Keith shot from the blue line past Howard off of a faceoff win in the Detroit end with 7:54 remaining in the third.
Howard finished the afternoon with 28 saves on 32 shots to earn the win. Huet made 13 stops on 17 Detroit chances before getting pulled while Niemi stopped seven of eight shots but let in the eventual game-winner, giving him the loss.
Rafalski's goal was the game's only power play goal, scored on Detroit's lone chance with the extra attacker. Chicago was scoreless on two power plays.
The Red Wings look to extend their winning streak to three games on Tuesday when they host the Calgary Flames.
Notes: Bertuzzi left the game in the second period with what the Red Wings called a lower body injury... Combined with Calgary's win and Nashville's loss, the Red Wings remain one point up on the Flames in the standings but climb to within a point of the Predators.
It's a dreaded afternoon game on mostly-dreaded NBC today, as the Red Wings visit Chicago for a 12:30 matchup.
Detroit will roll the same lineup as was used in Friday night's win over Nashville, with Brett Lebda in on the blue line and Jimmy Howard starting in goal.
Despite a Red Wings loss, the last time these two teams met was quite possibly the most entertaining game of the year. We can hope for more of the same but with points at a premium I'm hoping for a win more.
Call me cocky but I'm happy to see Huet in net for Chicago.
Howard's rebound control. What happened to that? Went right to Keith.
Two retarded-ass plays by the Wings and a goal for Chicago. Not gonna win games playing like that.
sorry about the not making it to the playoffs, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Maybe next year. But really sorry about that.
Wow. It's been awhile since we've had a troll here. Bubye.
Raffy with a hell of a blast on the four-on-three.
Wacky-ass penalty calls in the second here.
That arena just got real quiet.
Maybe I shouldn't have banned that troll, I'd like to hear how a Blackhawks fan thinks they're going to win in the playoffs with Huet as the goalie.
Where did they get the refs? I'm all about having one called back since we have had... what... 20-30 called back because of Homer? And go figure we would get the goalie interference and Chicago would somehow get away with it.
Raffy and Nick on the powerplay... How can you do any better?
I'm not sure "everyone" is glad to have Lilja back. Any thoughts Clark?
Yeah baby! Mike and Pierre are eating their first period comments!
Holy Christ, Huet is just f*cking out of this game.
I'm not sure "everyone" is glad to have Lilja back. Any thoughts Clark?
I am. Wings were missing him.
Oh my god. Huet is my favorite Blackhawk.
Huet is done!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!
Huet is done!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!
I'm not sure "everyone" is glad to have Lilja back. Any thoughts Clark?
I am. Wings were missing him.Oh my god. Huet is my favorite Blackhawk.
I'll believe it when he is consistent...
The other thing I hate about games on NBC... Pierre Mcguire
I'll believe it when he is consistent...
So far he has been. He was last year before going out and I think I said that at the time. 2008? Not so much.
And with Ericsson having a Sophomore Slump it's good to get another physical veteran back there.
Bert in on three of four goals and then gets hurt. Sounds about right this season.
Hopefully that is not another long term injury...
Dats with the break away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! f*ck yeah!!!
Oh my god. Wow.
I was thinking before the second that it would be a good period if the Wings came out of it only down by one. Yeah, I set my sights a bit low it would seem.
Damnit... Bad defense yet again!
Missed the goal while I was on the phone. I swear intermissions are faster on NBC, I keep missing the start of a period.
Say it isn't so...
Great.... Bert is not coming back and now Dats appears to be hurt.
Well, f*ck. At least Pavs was back out there.
Something to smile about, Ladd is a RFA this summer and the 'Hawks have no cap space.
Massive kill right there.
Holy mother of god, that was too close.
Shouldn't have been that close but the Wings solidified their defense for the last 10 minutes or so to hold on.
No postgame on NBC. Straight to golf. Thanks Gary, ass.
Looks like I missed a good game! ): Oh well. I did see the part where the Wings were down 2-0 and then I put on my Filppula jersey and they ended up winning. It's still got it 
Pavel Datsyuk
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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