Stanley Cup Playoffs
OT victory lifts Wings into Finals
DETROIT - Darren Helm scored 3 minutes, 58 seconds into overtime last night to give the defending-champion Detroit Red Wings a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks and a Stanley Cup Finals rematch with Pittsburgh.
The Red Wings won the Western Conference finals, four games to one. They will open at home Saturday against the Penguins, who swept Carolina in the East. The Finals rematch is the first since 1984, when the Edmonton Oilers took the Cup from the New York Islanders.
Helm set off a celebration after fanning with a shot attempt from the edge of the crease and having the puck go in off his skate.
Cristobal Huet, playing in Chicago's net for the injured Nikolai Khabibulin, forced overtime with a spectacular stop from his stomach. Detroit's Chris Osgood stopped 30 shots.
Chicago 0 0 1 0 – 1
Detroit 0 0 1 1 – 2
First period: None. Penalties: Sharp, Chi (hooking), 8:34; Chicago bench, served by Brouwer (too many men), 16:34.
Second period: None. Penalties: Eager, Chi, misconduct, 8:00; Fraser, Chi (roughing), 8:00; Holmstrom, Det (roughing), 8:00; Hossa, Det (slashing), 8:31; Lebda, Det (hooking), 11:24; Keith, Chi (slashing), 14:31; Holmstrom, Det (tripping), 15:04.
Third period: 1, Detroit, Cleary 8 (Lebda, Filppula), 6:08. 2, Chicago, Kane 9 (Seabrook, Bolland), 12:53. Penalties: None.
First overtime period: 3, Detroit, Helm 3 (Holmstrom, Lebda), 3:58. Penalties: None.
Shots on goal: Chicago 9-11-11-0–31. Detroit 21-10-11-4–46.
Power-play opportunities: Chicago 0 of 3; Detroit 0 of 3.
Goalies: Chicago, Huet 1-2-0 (46 shots-44 saves). Detroit, Osgood 12-4-0 (31-30).
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Bill McCreary. Linesmen: Greg Devorski, Shane Heyer.
A: 20,066 (20,066). T: 2:41.
