Red Wings 1 - 4 Blackhawks
Final
  for this game

Crawford and Kopecky carry Chicago past Wings

Dec 18, 2010 - 9:16 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Corey Crawford turned aside 29 shots to help the Chicago Blackhawks take a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at United Center.

Tomas Kopecky scored twice while Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell each had a goal for the Blackhawks, who snapped a three-game slide.

"As a goaltender, when your team gets up early like that -- that's a huge boost," Crawford said.

Patrick Eaves scored the lone goal while Jimmy Howard was tagged for three goals on 30 shots for the Red Wings, who had won three of four coming in.

"We didn't really work hard for our breaks. We didn't really have the jump that we needed," said Detroit's Darren Helm.

The Blackhawks got on the board just 1:04 into the game on the power play when Sharp's one-timer from the left circle got past Howard.

Chicago made it a 2-0 game 3 1/2 minutes later when a one-timer by Bickell from the slot went over the glove of Howard for his ninth goal of the year.

Detroit tallied less than 30 seconds later as Eaves' backhander from the left side snuck past Crawford.

The only goal of the second period came at the 11:22 mark. Brian Campbell danced through the defense and knifed a pass over to the right for Kopecky, who skated to the slot and went from backhand to forehand before sneaking the puck past Howard.

Crawford stopped eight shots in the second frame to hold Detroit at bay.

The third period saw Crawford stop all seven shots he faced and Kopecky add an empty-netter with 1:04 to play to seal the win.

Game Notes

Chicago hosts Los Angeles on Sunday...Detroit returns home to face Dallas on Sunday...Detroit had won three straight in the series, including a 3-2 decision in Chicago on October 9...Detroit fell to 8-4-1 on the road this season...Chicago improved to 9-9-0 at home this year...Chicago forward Patrick Kane missed his fifth straight game with an ankle injury while forward Marian Hossa sat out his eighth straight game with a lower-body issue.






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