Morning Box Score: Blackhawks Win OT Thriller

By Benjy Lipsman in News on May 23, 2009 4:15PM

Looking to avoid a virtually insurmountable 0-3 series deficit, the Blackhawks knew they needed to win on their home ice in Game Three of the Western Conference finals. In spite of blowing a three goal lead on the Detroit Red Wings, the Blackhawks won 4-3 after scoring less than two minutes into overtime.

As in the previous two games, the 'Hawks scored first when Patrick Sharp found the net during a power play. Just over a minute later, Andrew Ladd added another goal to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead by the first intermission. Less than a minute into the second period, Samuel Pahlsson put the Hawks up by three. That lead didn't hold, however, as the Red Wings countered with three goals in less than five minutes to tie the game at 3-3 before the end of the second period. When neither team was able to score in the final period of regulation, they headed to OT. Patrick Sharp's second goal of the night was the game winner, coming off a pass from Samuel Pahlsson following a Matt Walker shot attempt. "Osgood is a good goaltender. I've scored a few from that backdoor and wasn't missing that one," said Sharp.

Friday night's win did not come without a price, however. The Blackhawks lost two of their top players to injury. In the first period, Martin Havlat took a crushing hit from Niklas Kronwall and was knocked out cold. He did not return to action. And Cristobal Huet tended goal for the third period -- his first action in the playoffs -- after Nikolai Khabibulin left with a lower body injury. Huet held Detroit scoreless on six shots in the final period.

It is not known yet whether Havlat or Khabibulin will be ready to play on Sunday -- coach Quenneville said both are considered day-to-day -- when the two teams face off in Game Four at the United Center.