Blackhawks' win over Red Wings simply 'must-see' TV
New Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz could be seen beaming in the corner of the United Center's lower level, where he customarily sits for games.
And why not?
Wirtz, who has been in charge of the Hawks only since last month, on Sunday watched his team take another positive step forward in repairing its image in a city that had all but forgotten the NHL in recent years.
In the first telecast of a home game since Wirtz announced a change in the long-despised blackout policy, the Hawks held off the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 before a near sellout crowd of 19,045.
If telecasts of home games are considered three-hour commercials for the product, a lot of Hawks fans watching had to like what they were pitched.
"I'm happy for the people that were here because I think they saw an exciting game, and I'm sure the people at home also saw an exciting game," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "I'd like to have them on board with us, so come on down because it's fun."
Also, as if it were scripted, rookies Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews each scored a goal.
The dynamic play of the 18-year-old Kane and the 19-year-old Toews is one of the reasons why Wirtz and general manager Dale Tallon were so eager to expose their team to more games on TV.
"I think we all knew we wanted to (win) for the fans, the city, the whole Blackhawks tradition, but the most important thing is we wanted to go out and win it for ourselves in this locker room," Toews said. "Everyone held up their end of the bargain, and we played a great game overall."
The Hawks (10-7) won their third straight at home and also made it 3-for-3 against the Red Wings this season. The loss ended Detroit's nine-game winning streak.
"We've played well the last few weeks, so it was nice to go out there and play the way we did and get 2 points against a team that's been rolling like Detroit," Toews said.
Hawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin made 30 saves and was there when his teammates needed him most against Detroit's dangerous power play and again late when the Red Wings buzzed for the tying goal.
"Nik kept us in the game," Savard said.
The Hawks already were leading 1-0 on Yanic Perreault's third goal in the last three games when Kane made it 2-0 on a power play at 15:09 of the first period.
The Hawks had a two-man advantage when Kane took a perfect cross-crease pass from Robert Lang and banged it past goalie Chris Osgood for his seventh goal.
"Langer made me a nice saucer pass, and I just had to tap it in," Kane said. "I'll take those any day of the week."
After Detroit's Jiri Hudler made it 2-1 at 16:10 of the second period, Toews got a power-play goal with 1:35 left in the period.
Toews ripped a wrist shot high over Osgood's glove from the low right circle for his seventh goal. Dustin Byfuglien's hustling play at the blue line kept the play alive in the Detroit zone.