Red Wings get the win, 6-4, at Wrigley Field
CHICAGO -- Two goals by Detroit 17 seconds apart early in the third period, the first by Brian Rafalski on a power play and the second by Chicago-area native Brett Lebda, extended the Red Wings' lead to 6-3 and sent many fans heading toward the exits.
Too bad. They missed a comically bad rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," sung by Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Ryne Sandberg, Billy Williams, Denis Savard and other local sports figures.
Their serenade took place just past the halfway point of the period, when the teams switched ends to ensure that no one had an unfair advantage because off the weather. Actually, the skies got a little lighter in the third period than in the first two, though it wasn't really sunny and it was definitely chilly.
Blackhawks starting goaltender Cristobal Huet was replaced by Nikolai Khabibulin after Lebda's goal -- a goal that was affirmed after a video review. The puck went under the crossbar and out so quickly that a replay was needed to be sure it had gone in. Then, the Blackhawks' Duncan Keith scored another goal with just 10 seconds left, making the final score 6-4.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is scheduled to talk to the media after the game, and we'll have his thoughts, and a complete wrapup of this entertaining day, later at latimes.com/sports.
-- Helene Elliott
