Hossa, Zetterberg Lead Shorthanded Red Wings over Blackhawks

Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg each scored twice for the Red Wings Sunday afternoon, providing the scoring to lift a Detroit team that was missing many of its top players to a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Red Wings now have a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference Final matchup.

Detroit was without MVP finalist Pavel Datsyuk, Norris Trophy finalist Nicklas Lidstrom, and faceoff master Kris Draper, all lost to injury. They then lost goalie Chris Osgood to dehydration after the second period.

The Blackhawks were without injured goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and eventually lost Martin Havlat to a crushing hit for the second consecutive game.

Missing so many players, the Red Wings were already in a hole when Zetterberg was called for holding at 7:41 of the first period. Hossa and Valtteri Filppula turned the tables on the Chicago power play, though, breaking free on a two-on-one that saw Hossa convert to get Detroit on the board.

Johan Franzen snapped a shot from the right wing to the top corner of the net over Chicago netminder Christobal Huet’s shoulder with just 21 seconds left in the first to put the Wings up by a pair.

Filppula scored on Detroit’s second power play of the game, banging in a rebound at 1:13 of the second period to extend the lead.

Jonathan Toews got the Blackhawks on the board with a power play goal at 3:53 of the second, jamming home the rebound of a Cam Barker shot.

Chicago’s attempt at a rally would end just 12 seconds later when Hossa swept down the right wing and cut to the net, beating Huet once again.

Corey Crawford came into the ‘Hawks crease after Hossa’s second goal but the goalie change did little to stop the Wings, with Zetterberg roofing a shot into the top of the net on a five-on-three at 7:42.

Huet returned to the Chicago net to start the third period while Ty Conklin took over for Osgood.

Zetterberg added one more power play goal to round out the scoring with 7:13 left in the game.

Detroit went three-for-eight on the power play in a game that saw Chicago take 56 minutes worth of penalties. The ‘Hawks were one-for-four with the man-advantage.

Osgood made 18 saves on 19 shots against and Conklin stopped all nine shots he faced. Huet stopped 21 of 26 Detroit chances. Crawford had six saves on seven shots.

The Red Wings will look to close out the series on Wednesday in Game Five at Detroit.

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It was the first career missed playoff game for Lidstrom, who mad made 228-straight postseason appearances.