Shoot, what a game: Riveting contest goes to Hawks, 4-3

DETROIT - In the marathon that is the six-month NHL season, every so often you get a game like the one the Blackhawks and Red Wings played Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena.

What's the term? Instant classic?

There was great goaltending, especially from the Hawks' Antti Niemi, back-and-forth chances with superior skill on display, an entertaining fight between Kris Versteeg and Patrick Eaves, and a shootout that was more like a who's who of the league's best players.

And in the end it was the Hawks winning 4-3 on Patrick Sharp's deciding goal in the shootout in a game televised nationally by NBC.

"Those games are a lot of fun to play, especially when it's on national TV and you want to show the world how good this game is," Hawks winger Patrick Kane said. "Obviously in the shootout you saw a couple sweet shootout moves, but our guys just went down and buried them."

Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi scored on those "sweet" moves for the Red Wings - Datsyuk's innovative chip shot high over Niemi, and Bertuzzi's a spin-o-rama backhand.

Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Sharp scored for the Hawks on quick snap shots past Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard.

"Best shootout ever," NBC studio analyst Jeremy Roenick said afterwards.

Sharp was 1-for-6 in shootouts this season and admitted he was thinking about that as he stood at center ice with the win on his stick.

"I always seem to shoot fourth because we've got the snipers in here," Sharp said. "Every time I shoot, it seems to have implications on the game. I definitely wanted to score because it's been a while since I scored in the shootout."

Niemi made 35 saves to improve his record to 12-3-1, none bigger than the flashing pad stop he made on Henrik Zetterberg in alone 17 seconds into overtime after Zetterberg stole the puck from Brent Seabrook.

"I didn't think too much, maybe trying to get set so they can't get a five hole like on the second goal," Niemi said.

Said Sharp: "He made a couple big saves with the game on the line against some heavy shooters. "We probably could have helped him out a little more."

Niemi was so on his game he nearly stopped Datsyuk's chip shot in the shootout, lunging back to get the handle of his stick on the puck before it dropped into the net.

"He was spectacular," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "What a hockey game. It had everything."

The Hawks are 2-0 on their eight-game road trip that continues Tuesday in Ottawa.

"Yesterday (at Columbus) was big to get off on the right foot and today was probably bigger," defenseman Duncan Keith said. "They were skating hard and it was a tough fought game."

The game's first 15 minutes belonged to the Hawks, who took a 2-0 lead on goals by Troy Brouwer and Kane on a power play, his 20th of the season.

Brouwer's goal opened the scoring at 7:55 and came off a rush the other way following a great save by Niemi on Justin Abdelkader in alone.

The Red Wings tied the game 2-2 on Zetterberg's power-play goal at 8:45 of the second period, but Sharp answered less than three minutes later, redirecting a perfect pass by Keith through Howard.

"I think the big goal was right after they scored by Sharpie," Quenneville said. "It was a nice response."

The game got to OT on Eaves' goal with 9:50 to play.

The overtime was as dramatic as they come. Not only was there's Niemi's save on Zetterberg early, Howard made 2 saves without a stick, then as time expired Hossa fired a shot wide of a half-open net on a 2-on-1 with Sharp.

"What else can you wish for, playing in Detroit and win in a shootout and we got 2 big points," Hossa said.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Tim Sassone's game tracker</p> <p class="breakhead">Three stars</p> <p class="News"><b>1. Antti Niemi, Hawks:</b> Another spectacular performance in goal with 35 saves.</p> <p class="News"><b>2. Patrick Sharp, Hawks:</b> A goal in regulation and another in the shootout to win it.</p> <p class="News"><b>3. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings:</b> Two assists, a highlight-reel chip shot goal in the shootout and a dangerous presence all day.</p> <p class="breakhead">By the numbers</p> <p class="News">The Hawks won 57 percent of the faceoffs with John Madden going 13-5 and Niklas Hjalmarsson blocked 5 shots.</p> <p class="News">The Red Wings outhit the Hawks 35-20, or so said the hometown stats crew.</p> <p class="breakhead">Until then</p> <p class="News">The Hawks and Red Wings don't meet again until March 7 at the United Center.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=351659">Sharp snaps shootout shortfall <span class="date">[1/17/10]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>