CHICAGO, Illinois -- The Detroit Red Wings closed out their regular season with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday afternoon, setting them up for a first round playoff rematch with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Red Wings and Coyotes met in the 2010 Western Conference Semifinals, a series Detroit won in seven games. The Wings are the only team to have played Phoenix more than once in the postseason, having also met them in the 1998 Conference Semifinals, winning that series in six games.
Detroit's win put the Blackhawks' postseason in doubt, as it wasn't until the Dallas Stars lost to the Minnesota Wild Sunday night that Chicago clinched the eighth spot in the Western Conference and a matchup with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Blackhawks came out strong against Detroit with their season on the line, pressuring Detroit early in the first but coming out of the period in a 0-0 tie despite two power plays.
Michael Frolik opened the game's scoring at 5:18 of the second, snapping a shot from the high slot past Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard on a feed from Patrick Kane. The Red Wings had been prepared to clear the zone until Kane tripped up Brad Stuart in the corner and stole the puck.
Detroit responded just 1:38 later, when Tomas Holmstrom caught up with a loose puck in the neutral zone and jumped into the Chicago end, blasting a shot past Corey Crawford.
Pavel Datsyuk put the Wings in front 62 seconds after that. Datsyuk got the puck to Todd Bertuzzi along the right wing boards for a shot that was knocked down in front. Danny Cleary got to the loose puck and pushed it to Datsyuk in the right circle for a wrister past Crawford.
Drew Miller made it 3-1 at 1:56 of the third, driving to the net to tip the puck in when Valtteri Filppula threw it out front from the left corner.
Brent Seabrook pulled Chicago to back within a goal at 4:07, blasting a shot from the top of the right circle past Howard with former Red Wing Tomas Kopecky screening.
Cleary restored the two-goal lead at 8:11, flicking a shot from the slot past Crawford off of a feed from Bertuzzi.
With 8:38 remaining in regulation, Duncan Keith tracked down a rebound in front of the Detroit net and backhanded a shot over Howard to make it 4-3.
A late power play and an empty net for the extra attacker wouldn't be enough for the Blackhawks as they failed to tie the game back up, outshooting Detroit 17-9 in the third period.
Chicago was held scoreless on three power play tries on the night, while Detroit did not get a chance with the extra attacker.
Howard finished the afternoon with 33 saves on 36 shots. Crawford stopped 27 of 31 chances.
The Red Wings are now off until they open their series against Phoenix on Wednesday.
Notes: Detroit was without Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Patrick Eaves on Sunday. Kronwall and Eaves are expected to be available to start the playoffs but Zetterberg's status is uncertain.
The Red Wings wrap up the regular season in Chicago this afternoon, their playoff position locked in and their opponent down to two possibilities. Depending on the outcome of this afternoon's Wings-'Hawks matchup, Detroit will face either the Phoenix Coyotes or the Nashville Predators in the opening round.
A Red Wings win of any kind matches them up with Phoenix. If a regulation win is coupled with a Dallas win in regulation or overtime later today, the Blackhawks will be knocked out of the playoffs and the Stars will be in.
If Chicago wins, the Red Wings will face the Predators. A shooutout win for the Blackhawks would create a three-way tie for fifth place but the 'Hawks have the tiebreaker.
As expected, Detroit will be without Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall for the game. Jimmy Howard is the Wings' likely starter in goal.
I'm tempted to work through this game and just listen on the radio. Just not feeling it, a lot like Friday night. I hope I'm wrong.
Solid save by Jimmy right before the Homer penalty.
This game is being carried on AFN here in Afghanistan. I'd like to seev the Wings knock out the Hawks.
We'll see.
Wow! Howard actually made it post-to-post!
Another big stop by Jimmy. He's on today.
Well, this first period is definately better than the last first period.
Well, this first period is definately better than the last first period.
Yeah, not great but stronger than they had been playing.
No penalty? Seriously?
Stuart tripped, no call, goal Chicago.
There ya go Homer!
Homer just moved about as fast as he ever has. Real nice shot.
And Pasha with the go-ahead!
Cleary made all that happen.
Strong play on the puck, getting to the puck, hell of a shot there
Seems the Wings are playing it a bit loosie-goosie and it's getting in Chicago's loop.
Howard looks solid tonight. Doing a good job at controling rebounds.
Franzen sticked in the face, no call. Wow.
Great period. Wings seemed to flip a switch. Can't believe they haven't gotten a power play yet.
I wonder what the Dallas Stars, sitting in their hotel rooms in St. Paul watching this game, are thinking about their chances.
Well, the Hawks are going to come out on fire in the final period. They've got nothing left to loose at this point. Detroit needs to be careful. Just stay loose and keep their heads up. Look like they can't depend on getting any penalties called their way (Yeah, I know, nothing new here) so they're going to have to stay real smart on the puck. And Jimmy H is coming through for a change. How 'bout that?
I wonder what the Dallas Stars, sitting in their hotel rooms in St. Paul watching this game, are thinking about their chances.
I wonder if they're reading this forum?
You know what's going to happen with all the bullsh*t non-calls on Chicago, right? Wings will finally get a power play and then give up a SHG. Terrifying thought.
I wonder what the Dallas Stars, sitting in their hotel rooms in St. Paul watching this game, are thinking about their chances.
I wonder if they're reading this forum?
Site stats say not a chance.
Panic in gangland...
Great job by Miller to go to the net there.
I don't have a problem with that goal, but if it was Homer it wouldn't count.
Not that I'm complaining that there was a missed penalty there (there wasn't) but if that were Homer, you know we'd be down a man right now and no goal.
I don't have a problem with that goal, but if it was Homer it wouldn't count.
Great minds think alike!
Great period so far. Dats making people look silly.
Fantastic shift by the Cleary/Bertuzzi/Abdelkader/Filppula (there was a change in the middle) line leading to the fourth goal.
Howard is looking his best all year IMO. Where's he been?
Stuart had a chance to clear and went after the man. Bad shift.
No suprise on that BS icing...
Bad time to take a penalty...
Very exciting finish. We just needed to finish out with no more injuries.
Best of all, I think with will carry a good psychologocal boost into the play-offs.
Go Stars!!! 
Gutsy win by the Wings. Great way to end the regular season.
Wings face Phoenix in the first round. Stars are still alive, needing a win in regulation or OT to make the playoffs and knock Chicago out.
Good win for the wings but I'd say Vancouver and San Jose will have an easier run to the conference finals now since Dallas will get in after beating the wild. Wings v Phoenix isn't really a good matchup. Nashville wouldve been alot better since they're closer in distance. Wings do have homeice though which doesnt mean a whole lot since that can't win @ home. I think wings will go down in this series in 6 or 7. I thought wings would make to round 2 but after this past week theyll be out in r1. Even if they do make it out of round 1 they'll be beaten down.
I'd say it all depends on which Wings team shows up. The one from today or the one from Friday?
Did that switch get flipped for real or just for a game?
Dan Cleary
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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