It's easy to forgive the NHL, or at least the Blackhawks, when the team is playing this well. Jonathan Toews and Co. tied a franchise record Saturday by winning their fifth straight game to start the season, and they were going for team history against hated Detroit on Sunday. Could they do it? RedEye tracked how hot the Hawks were during Sunday's game.
FIRST PERIOD
17:36: That didn't take long. Duncan Keith cruises toward the net on a power play and blasts it past Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard into the top left corner.
Heat level: 4 (inferno)
13:10: Hawks defenseman Johnny Oduya takes a huge hit, which gives Detroit a chance to score. Fortunately for Chicago, the Wings' shot missed the net.
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
10:32: Marian Hossa, who's been a scoring machine this season, steals the puck and has Howard dead to rights. Alas, his shot is off the mark.
Heat level: 3 (scorching)
39.4: A bad turnover nearly costs the Hawks, but Corey Crawford absorbs the puck as it pinballs on net. Whew!
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
Score: Blackhawks 1, Red Wings 0
SECOND PERIOD
12:35: The Red Wings' Johan Franzen nearly banks one in off Crawford, but the Hawks goalie snaps it up after it bounces behind him.
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
9:21: The Hawks kill off a pair of overlapping penalties, including a 43-second two-man advantage for the Wings. Yay, defense!
Heat level: 3 (scorching)
7:02: The Hawks kill off yet ANOTHER penalty, this one for having too many men on the ice. Might this lead to some momentum?
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
1:02: Patrick Sharp skates in shorthanded with only the goalie to beat, but fires high. That's about as exciting as it got for the Hawks in the second period. Ugh.
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
Score: Blackhawks 1, Red Wings 0
THIRD PERIOD
15:30: The relentless Red Wings finally slide one past Crawford, as Franzen beats him with a shot through the five-hole to tie the game.
Heat level: 1 (frozen)
3:27: Keith nearly rescues a listless Hawks squad with another rocket shot, but it rattles off the goal post.
Heat level: 2 (lukewarm)
Score: Blackhawks 1, Red Wings 1
OVERTIME
3:45: Crawford's lightning-quick glove denies Franzen, keeping the Hawks' win streak alive for the time being.
Heat level: 1 (frozen)
2:15: GOAL! Nick Leddy's first goal of the season propels the Hawks into franchise history. Do we hear 48-0?
Heat level: 4 (inferno)
Final score: Blackhawks 2, Red Wings 1
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