The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are battling it out in Game 7 to determine which will go on to face the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings, in the Western Conference Finals. Through the first 20 minutes, neither team has managed to score that all-important first goal.
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Game 7 update: Detroit and Chicago trade power plays, but not goals
The opening period of Game 7 ended tied at zero.
The Blackhawks killed off an early Red Wings power play after Duncan Keith took a tripping penalty. Goaltender Corey Crawford stood tall on the PK, making several key saves to keep the game scoreless early. The Blackhawks would have a few solid chances on two later power plays of their own, but wouldn't be able to convert on either opportunity.
The most significant moment of the first period came when Detroit's Valtteri Filppula and Andrew Shaw came together near the benches.
Filppula ended up going down awkwardly and headed to the dressing room, and didn’t return to the game. Reports soon came in that he was using crutches in the dressing room with an apparent ankle injury, so his return is in doubt for Game 7.
The period ended without a score. Chicago had the edge in shots, 13-11.
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