Young, seventh-seeded Red Wings have evened 2nd round series at 1 with top-seeded Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings' Brendan Smith (2) controls the puck past Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (88) during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference semifinals in Chicago, Saturday, May 18, 2013. The Red Wings won 4-1. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (The Associated Press)

Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (19) reacts as he looks for the puck against Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference semifinals Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (The Associated Press)

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings have gotten much younger than they used to be.

And now, as the Chicago Blackhawks are finding out, Detroit is a much better team than it was during the lockout-delayed regular season thanks to its improved cast of inexperienced players.

Red Wings rookie Brendan Smith netted game-winning goal in Saturday's series-evening, 4-1 win at Chicago.

First-year player Damien Brunner and rookie Gustav Nyquist have also scored game-winning goals this postseason and teammate Joakim Andersson ranks among rookie scoring leaders.

Chicago is counting on a young, but experienced, player as the second-round series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Monday night.

Captain Jonathan Toews, a 25-year-old center, is in an eight-game postseason scoring slump that dates to last year.