With an extra day of rest between games, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings began Game 2 with a speedy pace, and the lone goal of the first period came off a fast rink-length rush by the Blackhawks. Patrick Kane finished a pretty passing play with Michal Handzus and Patrick Sharp to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Game 2 update: Patrick Kane gives Chicago 1-0 lead
Patrick Kane’s first goal of the playoffs put the Hawks up 1-0 after the first period.
Jonathan Daniel
The goal at 14:05 was Kane’s first of the playoffs and it came on a play where Handzus could have easily placed it in the net himself.
The rush began when Sharp blocked Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith from intercepting a breakout pass at the Hawks blueline, creating a three-on-two with speed through the neutral zone. That left Kyle Quincey and Daniel Cleary to defend the rush, but Cleary over-committed to Sharp's side and sprawled to the ice, leaving Handzus and Kane wide open to have their way with Jimmy Howard.
With Handzus moving the puck to Kane at the back door, Howard had little chance.
The Red Wings, however, outshot the Blackhawks 12-8 in the period and generally looked better than they did in Game 1, which they lost 4-1 after being outshot 42-21. Each team failed to convert on one power play during the period.
Despite the 1-0 deficit after the first, if the Wings keep this level up they’ll have a much better shot at tying the series.
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