Detroit, MI

Bryan Bickell netted the go-ahead goal while Michael Frolik added an insurance tally in the third period as the Chicago Blackhawks forced Game 7 with a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Michal Handzus and Marian Hossa also scored while goaltender Corey Crawford recorded 35 saves as Chicago won two in a row after falling behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series to force the do-or-die game 7 at United Center.

"It was just pure confidence. Our heads were just in the right spot," said Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who had two assists. "We knew what we had to do and we weren't panicking. We just had to stay with it."

"I think all our hard work is paying off. We're finding ways, we're doing the right things to score goals, and we're confident when we get those chances that they're going to go in somehow. We've got that momentum, we want to keep it," he added.

Ahead 2-1, the Red Wings were 20 minutes away from a trip to California to face either the Los Angeles Kings or San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals.

However, the Red Wings struggled early in the third period, allowing the Blackhawks to take a 4-2 lead after scoring three goals in less than nine minutes.

"I thought tonight actually, over 60 minutes, sure we made some mistakes, but all in all we made a lot of good things out there and we played a pretty good game," Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said.

Hossa scored his second power-play goal of the series to give Chicago a 1-0 lead at 3:53 of the first period but Patrick Eaves evened the score for the Red Wings late in the opening period.

The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead behind Joakim Andersson's first playoff goal before Handzus tied the score 51 seconds into the third.

Bickell gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead with his fifth goal of the postseason at 5:48 before Frolik netted a penalty shot for a two-goal cushion.

 

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Blackhawks Score Three Goals in 3rd, Force Game 7