CHICAGO — Not even a hat trick by Chicago’s Andrew Ladd could sidetrack the Red Wings.
Pavel Datsyuk capped a five-goal second period as Detroit rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Blackhawks on Sunday.
Ladd’s first goal of the game gave Chicago a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Detroit took charge in the second before Ladd added two more goals in the final period.
“They seemed to take it off the pedal a little there in the second and we took advantage of it,” Detroit defenseman Brian Rafalski said. “We got on a little bit of a roll.”
Rafalski started the surge with a power-play goal 4:12 into the second to cut the lead to 2-1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Jason Williams, Valtteri Filppula and Datsyuk followed with goals as the Red Wings won for the fourth time in five games.
The Red Wings, hampered by injuries early in the season, strengthened their grip on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Detroit has won eight straight Central Division titles, and just might be finding its winning touch again.
“We came out and went to town in the second period,” Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard said after making 28 saves. “We really played well in the neutral zone and counterattacked and got something on them.”
Defenseman Duncan Keith scored Chicago’s first goal.
