Morning Box Score

By Matt Motyka in News on Apr 13, 2009 3:20PM

'Hawks Top Red Wings
The Chicago Blackhawks concluded the regular season with 3-0 shutout victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. 'Hawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin was in top form, denying all 37 shot attempts by Detroit. Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews both scored in the first period to provide early offense for Chicago, and Dave Bolland added a power-play goal in the third to make the the Blackhawks' lead insurmountable. Chicago finishes the season with 104 points, good for sixth best in the league, and will be hosting the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs. The Blackhawks won all four contests versus the Flames in the regular season and will look to continue their dominance when the puck drops at 7:30 on Thursday.

Cubs Best Brewers
It was another thriller in Milwaukee as the Cubs beat the Brewers 8-5 and took the series, two games to one. The hero of the day was Reed Johnson, who came into game when Milton Bradley strained his groin on the basepaths in the fourth inning (Bradley's status is day to day). With bases loaded and a 6-2 lead in the fifth, Ryan Dempster surrendered what looked to be a grand slam to Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, but Johnson scaled the wall in right and made a magnificent catch to prevent the home run. Alfonso Soriano hit his fourth big fly of the season to lead off the first inning and along with Derrek Lee and Koyie Hill, collected two RBIs on the night. Soriano's stolen base in the third put him in elite company, as he became him the fourth active player and 19th all-time to collect 250 homers and 250 steals. Weather permitting, the Cubs will play their home opener against the Colorado Rockies this afternoon.

Sox Drop Twins
The White Sox handled the Minnesota Twins for the second straight game, winning Sunday's contest 6-1. Delmon Young put the Twins up early with a solo shot off Mark Buehrle in the second, but Chicago answered with a Jim Thome long ball in the sixth to claim a 3-1 lead. Aside from the mistake to Young, Buehrle pitched a two-hit gem over 6.1 innings and earned his first win of the season. Bobby Jenks picked up the save and Jermaine Dye got his first homer of '09 with a drive to left in the eighth inning. The White Sox are scheduled for a nooner in Detroit today, as they look to claim another series from an A.L. Central opponent.