Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1249821/blackhawks-advance-after-overtime-goal-against-red-wings
Sport/ Other Sport

Blackhawks advance after overtime goal against Red Wings

Chicago defenceman scores in overtime against Detroit to send his team to face Kings in semis

AFP

Updated: 5:35am, 31 May, 2013

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The Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook celebratea his overtime goal to beat the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals at the United Center in Chicago.

Brent Seabrook scored 3:35 into overtime to give Chicago a 2-1 victory over Detroit as the Blackhawks stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to win their quarter-final series in seven games.

Defenceman Seabrook collected a loose puck in the neutral zone then carried it into the Red Wings end before firing a wrist shot that beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard to the glove side. Seabrook's shot appeared to change direction after it hit Red Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall.

"I was just trying to step up," Seabrook said. "The coach has been telling us [on] defence to jump into the play. I felt like I got a lot of room and I just tried to shoot it."

Chicago advance to the semi-finals to face the defending National Hockey League champion Los Angeles Kings, who also needed a game seven to punch their ticket by beating the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

Chicago open their Western Conference series against the Kings tomorrow at home. The Hawks or Kings will meet the winner of the other semi-final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston. Their best-of-seven series also gets underway tomorrow.

After taking game one, Chicago lost three straight to the seventh-seeded Red Wings to trail 3-1 in the series.

But Chicago fought back recording a 4-1 win at home ice in game five and then tied the series at 3-3 with Monday's 4-3 victory on the road.

Dave Bolland helped spring Seabrook free on the winner by placing a big hit on Detroit's Gustav Nyquist. That opened up the middle of the ice for former Lethbridge Hurricane Seabrook, who moved the puck quickly towards the Detroit goal then got the fortunate bounce off Kronwall.

Seabrook said he wasn't aiming for any particular spot just trying to see if he could force the goaltender to make a save.

"Kronwall is like me, he likes to block a lot of pucks so I was just trying to get it past him," Seabrook said.