Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Tomas Tatar scored the decisive shootout goal as the Detroit Red Wings edged the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Tatar scored on a backhander to begin the third round of the tiebreaker and then Jimmy Howard made a left pad save on Patrick Sharp as the Red Wings ended an 0-2-1 slide.
Tatar also had a second-period goal for Detroit, which got 32 saves from Howard.
Corey Crawford stopped 26 shots for the Blackhawks, who have grown accustomed to playing beyond regulation of late. Three of their last five games have gone to a shootout while another was decided in overtime.
"It was good, a long time coming," Howard said. "It feels extra special against a group that's so talented."
The shootout loss to Detroit left Chicago with a 2-0-3 mark on its current eight-game homestand. The Blackhawks have at least a point in seven straight games overall (4-0-3).
Detroit grabbed a 2-1 lead with 2:06 remaining in the third period when Darren Helm put the puck in off Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook. Pavel Datsyuk made a nice play to keep the puck inside the Chicago zone before backhanding it to Helm in the slot.
Just 43 seconds later, the Blackhawks tied it on a fortuitous carom. Howard couldn't glove Kris Versteeg's slap shot and the puck deflected in off Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall.
"Every point you get in the standings means a lot," Versteeg said. "You always want to get that extra point but with the shootout, you never know how it's gonna go."
Howard stood tall in a scoreless first period, recording 17 saves.
Tatar buried a no-look, backhand pass from Helm to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead with 3:50 remaining in the second period. Brandon Saad tied it 39 seconds later when he beat Howard on the blocker side with a wrist shot. Chicago caught a break on the play as Marian Hossa appeared to be offside.
Game Notes
The Red Wings began a six-game road trip ... Chicago was 0-for-4 on the power play ... Detroit improved to 8-0-2 against Central Division teams this season.
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