The Chicago Blackhawks had their backs to the wall, but managed a dominating performance against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. Now the top seeded Chicago will look to force Game 7 when the two sides meet Monday evening in Detroit for Game 6.
After being dominated in the last three games, Chicago outshot Detroit 45-26 and managed two power play goals. Andrew Shaw led the charge with two goals in the game, but Captain Jonathan Toews finally notched his first tally of the postseason.
"It was a great effort by everyone," Shaw said. "It's a team win. Everyone competed and everyone battled and we played desperate hockey and that's what we need to do from here on out... We didn't want a great season like this to end like this. We came out hard in the first and created momentum through the game and we just took off with it."
"We weren't good enough tonight at all as far as our plan or what we have to do to be successful," said Detroit Coach Mike Babcock. "There was too much space and [the Blackhawks] were freewheeling it around and having fun. It just goes to show you how hard it is to win and you've got to compete and do things right if you want to be successful."
"They're a team over there that's not going to roll over on you and let us have it," added Detroit defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo. "They came out with more of a determined effort in the first period, and it seemed that we weren't sharp with our passes, with our breakouts. We were giving them every opportunity, losing puck battles. I think in the second period we played more of our game, then we got into penalty trouble and their power play got two quick ones there. In the third period we tried to open it up a little bit, but we just got into more of a back-and-forth game -- something that we don't want to get ourselves into with a team like this."
Prediction: Chicago forces Game 7 with a 4-2 win.
Start Time: 8 PM EST
TV: NBCSN