|
|
|
|
|
Red Wings prevail in NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley
By Daniel Dullum January 1, 2009 |
||
|
|
|||
|
Despite falling behind by two goals after one period, the Detroit Red Wings flexed their scoring punch with three goals in the second period en route to a 6-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the second annual Winter Classic at Chicago’s legendary Wrigley Field. Usually the home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley was chosen for this season’s outdoor special and drew 40,818 spectators who watched the game played with the rink positioned lengthwise across the second base area of the infield and shallow centerfield from foul line to foul line. The game was carried throughout North America by NBC and CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada. During a break to switch ends in the third period, Blackhawk legends Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito sang a variation of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” As part of the festivities, the teams were decked out in throwback uniforms – the Red Wings wearing the sweaters they wore when known as the Detroit Cougars in 1926-27 and the Blackhawks donned black jerseys worn by the club in the 1930s. Martin Havlat scored a goal and picked up two assists for Chicago in the first period, as the Hawks built a 3-1 lead. But the Red Wings surged ahead to stay at 4-3 when Pavel Datsyuk split two defenders and backhanded the puck through Chicago goalie Christobal Huet’s legs. Detroit scored two goals in a 17-second span in the third period to put the game away. Brian Rafalski scored on a power play 3:07 into the period, and Brett Lebda’s shot from the slot beat Huet high. After a review, Huet was pulled for Nikolai Khabibulin. The Winter Classic seems to follow Detroit goaltender Ty Conkin around. Besides the 2009 Classic, Conkin was in the nets for Pittsburgh last year in front of 71,167 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, and was the Oilers’ netminder in 2003 when Montreal visited Edmonton and drew 57,167 at Commonwealth Stadium. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||