Blackhawks Original Six Rivalry Goes to a Game 7

The postmortems began a few days ago for a N.H.L.’s tip team, a Chicago Blackhawks, who were down, 3-1, to a Detroit Red Wings. Pause a grim epitaphs, for now. The Blackhawks have made a pointy turnaround in aWestern Conference semifinals, winning Game 5 in Chicago and Game 6 in Detroit to force a Game 7 at a United Center on Wednesday.

“We feel like we merit to be where we are,” Jonathan Toews, a Blackhawks’ captain, pronounced Tuesday. “Something about personification a Game 7, we want to go out there and feel like each shift, each chance weget, there competence be an event to change a game in preference of your team.

“I mean, to demeanour at a attitude we’ve had over a last integrate of games and where we were only a few days ago, it’s a outrageous credit to a guys for gripping their heads adult and staying lax and being positive.”


Game 7 is a wise conclusion to a long-running Original Six rivalry. The Red Wings are relocating to a Eastern Conference subsequent season and Chicago will sojourn in a West, changing any destiny meetings to a Stanley Cup finals encounter.

This is only a second time in Blackhawks history, that dates to a founding of a N.H.L. in 1926, that they haveforced a Game 7 after trailing, 3-1. The initial time was in 2011, when a Blackhawks recovered against aVancouver Canucks, usually to remove Game 7 in overtime, 2-1, during Vancouver. Wednesday’s Game 7 is also a first between a Blackhawks and a Red Wings given 1965, that Chicago won, 4-2, in Detroit.

According to a Elias Sports Bureau, 48 teams have recovered from 3-1 array deficits, and half went on to win Game 7.

Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock put a certain spin on a game notwithstanding his team’s deflating two-game slide.

“If I would’ve told Detroit and Michigan we would play in Chicago in Game 7, I think everybody would be excited about that,” Babcock said. “I love Game 7’s. We’ve got a chance to push them out of the playoffs. It should be a lot of fun.”

The Blackhawks’ recovery reflects what made them the top team in the regular season. Stars such as Toews and Marian Hossa regained their scoring touches; Corey Crawford has been mostly steady in goal; and supporting players like Bryan Bickell, Michal Handzus and Michael Frolik have provided timely help.

In a sweeping change of momentum, the Red Wings gave up three goals in the third period of Game 6. The period has been a weakness for the Red Wings, who have allowed 20 goals in 13 playoff games. And the Blackhawks had not shown an ability to win games in the third during this playoff run. Game 6 was their first win in four games when trailing entering the final period.

“They’re a good team; let’s get the facts straight,” Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. “They weren’t going to go away quietly. But now it’s down to one game. Game 7, you dream about winning these when you’re a kid.”

Bickell, a left wing, has been a particularly potent force for the Blackhawks, providing a physical presence that agitates the Red Wings, as well as scoring. He has five goals in the playoffs and has been a tough presence for the Red Wings to deal with.

“He’s strong and tough, and he is always working,” said Handzus, who tied Game 6 at 2-2 early in the third period. “That’s what we do when we are good. Everybody is doing that. We get help from everybody.”

Frolik supplied the game-winner off a third-period penalty shot, flicking a backhand over Howard’s left shoulder for a 4-2 lead.

“I think the room still always believed in the big picture, and we knew it was possible for us to come back,” Frolik said. “We still believe in each other, and I think we show good character now. We’ve tied up this series; now we have to prepare for a huge game at home.”