Hossa, Zetterberg Fuel Detroit to 3-1 Series Lead

Marian Hossa had been itching to set things right in the goal department and he did exactly that in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Blackhawks.  Valtteri Filppula was equally impressive with a power play goal and two assists in the game. Henrik Zetterberg added two goals of his own and Johan Franzen quietly added his 10th goal of the playoffs in a penalty ridden game. The Red Wings took a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Detroit as Hossa provided two goals and an assist in the lopsided affair.

Marian Hossa got the Red Wings on the board first with a shorthanded goal at 8:41 of the first period. Hossa took a loose puck from the defensive zone down the ice with Valtteri Filppula and connected with a shot past Cristobal Huet for a 1-0 lead.  Johan Franzen streaked down the side and ripped a shot between a Chicago defender’s legs and over Huet’s shoulder, right underneath the crossbar with 21 seconds left in the period to put a late period goal up on the board. The Wings headed into the first intermission with a 2 goal lead and a 14-9 advantage in the shot department, and Marian Hossa finally in the goal column.

Chicago’s Matt Walker took a penalty for roughing at the end of the first period and set Detroit up on a powerplay to open the second period. Valterri Filppula added a power play tally on a follow up shot off a rebound given up by Huet on a Hossa shot. It was the second point of the game for both Filppula and Hossa. Brett Lebda lifted a puck over the glass from the defensive zone and gave Chicago a powerplay early in the period. Jonathan Toews backhanded a rebound past Chris Osgood for the first Chicago tally. The goal was the 13th straight game that the Red Wings had allowed a power play goal.

But how much of a problem is that stat of 13 straight games allowing a power play goal when you score a goal 8 seconds later? Hossa added his second goal of the game as he streaked down the side board and forced a shot on net that beat Huet. Huet was subsequently pulled following the fourth goal and replaced by Corey Crawford. Chicago took two penalties on the same play, giving the Red Wings a 5-on-3 power play. Detroit wasted little time as they exploited the empty ice by passing cross ice and Brian Rafalski found Henrik Zetterberg in front of Crawford. Zetterberg backhanded a shot under Crawford’s arm for a 5-1 Detroit lead.

To start the third period, Joel Quenneville put Huet back in net and Mike Babcock put Ty Conklin in to give Osgood rest. Troy Brouwer took a penalty midway through the third period to give the Wings another power play. The Wings put on a pass and shoot clinic and eventually got a goal from Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg settled down a pass from Rafalski and put it in the back of the net for a 6-1 lead at 12:47.

Kris Versteeg was tossed from the game and joined his teammate Ben Eager in the locker room. This game was a mental breakdown for the Blackhawks with three misconducts –two of those to Eager—and numerous unnecessary penalties. Chicago tried to play physical but did so in a dumb way, taking penalties that were away from the play or after the play.

Despite Detroit playing without captain Nick Lidstrom and two of their best defensive forwards—and Selke winners—Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper, they were able to limit the Blackhawks to one goal on 28 shots. Detroit also took only 14 penalty minutes compared to Chicago's 56 in the box.

Game 5 could be decisive on Wednesday night back in Detroit as the Red Wings will look to finish the series and get extra rest due to the scheduling of the start of the Stanley Cup Finals. Puck drops at 7:30 pm ET and the game will air on Versus or CBC.

Casey's Red Wing of the game: Could make an argument for Zetterberg of Filppula but it's got to go to Marian Hossa. Hoss had been MIA in this series with the exception of a few assists but got on track today with 2 goals and an assist in 17+ minutes of ice time.

Marian Hossa

#81 / Right Wing / Detroit Red Wings

Height: 6-1

Weight: 210

Born: Jan 12, 1979