Final
  for this game

Blackhawks clip Red Wings

Feb 22, 2012 - 6:38 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Marcus Kruger netted the winner early in the third period and Corey Crawford stopped 31 shots as Chicago edged Detroit, 2-1, at United Center.

Jimmy Hayes provided the other score for the Blackhawks, who have won four games in a row.

Valtteri Filppula notched a first-period goal for the Red Wings, whose six- game win streak came to a halt.

Jimmy Howard made his first start since February 2, but lost despite making 27 saves.

Hayes drew the Blackhawks even with 7:45 gone in the second by driving home a rebound while standing in the crease behind Howard. Duncan Keith started the play with a floater from the left point which was tipped en route to the Detroit cage by Bryan Bickell.

Chicago moved ahead for good less than two minutes into the final period, as Hayes circled in front of Howard and took a backhander which Kruger kept digging for and eventually chipped home from the right post.

"It's something I've been doing...taking pucks to the net," Hayes said. "Luckily Kruger was crashing the net."

Howard was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:12 to play but the visitors failed to find an equalizer.

"We just couldn't find a way to get a couple past Crawford," Howard said. "It was another great game."

Kruger was in the box on a tripping minor just 34 seconds after the opening faceoff, and Filppula lit the lamp on a power play just 2:22 in on a wrister from between the circles.

Game Notes

Six of the last seven games between these Original Six clubs have been decided by one goal...Prior to the game, the Wings announced that forward Pavel Datsyuk will miss the next two weeks following right knee surgery...In addition, forward Danny Cleary returned to the lineup after a five-game absence following a left-knee procedure, and Howard came back from a broken finger...The Wings also acquired defenseman Kyle Quincey from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a first-round draft pick..The Blackhawks announced that captain Jonathan Toews and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson will miss the game with upper-body injuries...Chicago also dealt minor-league forward Brandon Segal to Tampa Bay for forward Matt Fornataro.