The comeback is complete and the Blackhawks' season rumbles on.
A stirring 2 1 overtime victory over the Red Wings in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on defenseman Brent Seabrook's goal was the Hawks' third consecutive victory in the best of seven series and they became the 21st team in NHL history to advance from a 3 1 postseason deficit. The Hawks next will face the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings in the conference finals beginning Saturday at the United Center.
Seabrook rifled a wrist shot from the high slot 3 minutes 35 seconds into the extra period to lift the Hawks over their Original Six rivals and goaltender Corey Crawford improved to 7 2 in elimination games during his career before a frenzied home crowd of 22 103.
Patrick Sharp also scored for the Hawks while only Henrik Zetterberg managed to find the back of the net for the Wings.
Jimmy Howard was the tough luck loser in goal for the Wings who appeared to have lost the game in regulation but got the benefit of a waved off goal late in the third.
Crawford was strong throughout and at his best during an early Wings power play. After Duncan Keith was sent off for tripping Justin Abdelkader Crawford turned aside two terrific chances one on a Damien Brunner one timer and then the netminder flashed the left pad to stone Daniel Cleary on the rebound from right in front.
Howard made his toughest save of the period when he denied Viktor Stalberg on a redirection late.
The Wings suffered a significant loss to their lineup early when center Valtteri Filppula left the ice with an apparent ankle injury after tangling with the Hawks' Andrew Shaw along the boards.
In the second the Hawks took advantage of a slow line change by the Wings with defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson starting a pretty tape to tape to tape passing play that finished with Michal Handzus finding Marian Hossa who then fed Sharp for the veteran winger to fire it past a helpless Howard.
The goalies and defense then took over as Crawford held the lead a short time later by dropping down to deny a wide open Cory Emmerton attempt Howard got some help from Niklas Kronwall when the defenseman blocked a wicked one timer from Patrick Kane that appeared headed for the net and Crawford blocked a stuff shot from Abdelkader.
Late in the second Howard snared a Stalberg wrist shot with his glove and halted a Shaw chance off a two on one with Stalberg.
The Wings knotted things at 1 1 just 26 seconds into the third when Zetterberg took a feed from Gustav Nyquist and fired the puck into the open net.
With 1 47 remaining in the third it appeared the Hawks had taken the lead on a Hjalmarsson blast but referee Stephen Walkom had whistled the play dead with coincidental penalties behind the action.
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