Blackhawks drag Red Wings to a Game 7

DETROIT: The Chicago Blackhawks crammed on three goals in the first half of the final period to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Monday, squaring the NHL Western Conference finals at 3- 3 and forcing a deciding Game 7.

The Blackhawks, who trailed the second round series 3- 1, began the third period down by one but went up by two after an offensive flurry. They needed the cushion because Damien Brunner scored with 52 seconds left to pull Detroit within one.

The Red Wings pulled their goaltender, but they were unable to score with the extra skater.

Still, Detroit coach Mike Babcock was emphasizing the positive as they head into the decider on Wednesday.

“If I would’ve told Detroit and Michigan we would play in Chicago in Game 7, everybody would be excited about that,” Babcock said. “I love Game 7s.

“We’ve got a chance to push them out of the playoffs. It should be a lot of fun.”

Chicago opened the scoring when Marian Hossa got his stick to the puck in a goalmouth scramble less than four minutes in.

Patrick Eaves tied the game with his first goal of the postseason later in the period and Joakim Andersson put the Red Wings up 2- 1 with a long wrister 10: 11 into the second period.

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford blamed himself for letting in the fluttering shot, leaving the top- seeded Blackhawks staring at elimination.

“I pretty much told myself it can’t get any worse,” Crawford said.

In fact it soon got better, as the Blackhawks turned it around rapidly in the third, silencing the raucous home crowd.

Michael Handzus was unmarked when he scored 51 seconds into the third against a helpless Jimmy Howard, tying the game.

Bryan Bickell wouldn’t let Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith move him away from Howard before he scored to make it 3- 2. Howard took Smith’s stick and threw it into the corner.

Michael Frolik’s backhander on a penalty shot at the 9: 43 mark put the Blackhawks ahead 4- 2 and became the first player to score two goals from pen-

alty shots in the playoffs.

Home ice meant little to the Los Angeles Kings last season when they stormed through the postseason as an eighth seed to win the Stanley Cup.

They’re hoping Staples Center means everything in Game 7 of an exhausting playoff with the San Jose Sharks. The Kings host the Sharks on Tuesday night in the finale to a second- round matchup featuring six straight home victories.

Los Angeles has won 13 consecutive home games over the past two months and seven straight home playoff games dating to last year’s Cup clincher.

This all- California series is ending just as both teams expected before it began two weeks ago.

Neither team can pull away, with goaltending and special teams largely deciding each game.