Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Valtteri Filppula scored twice as Detroit took a 3-2 win over Chicago to spoil the Blackhawks’ first home game of the season and raising of their championship banner.
Prior to the game, the Blackhawks added the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters for the first time since their previous Cup victory in 1961. Chicago defeated Philadelphia in six games this past June to win the Cup for the fourth time in franchise history.
Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist while Chris Osgood stopped 26 shots for the Red Wings, who won their season-opener over Anaheim.
“Last season didn’t go the way he wanted it,” said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock about Osgood. “It was good to see him play the way he did. He had a good camp and has been good right through so he’s probably feeling pretty good about himself and that’s important.”
Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell each had a goal for the Blackhawks, who have dropped their first two games of this campaign. Marty Turco allowed all three goals on 26 shots in the loss.
“At the beginning of every year a team has to build chemistry,” said Turco. “It’s not just something that you can mix up in a bowl. You have to go out there and pay attention and eventually it comes together.”
Skating on the power play in the third, Detroit took a 3-2 lead as Filppula skated around a fallen Chicago defenseman then slipped the puck between the pads of Turco with 14 minutes to play.
Detroit then killed off three Chicago power plays as Osgood made eight saves in the final frame for the win.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead with 7:01 left in the first when Filppula tipped the puck into the net off a feed from Bertuzzi.
Chicago, though, scored on the power play in the closing moments of the opening stanza on Seabrook’s one-timer off a Marian Hossa pass.
Bertuzzi’s goal 1:12 into the middle stanza put Detroit back on top, but Bickell answered just 37 seconds later with his second of the young season.
Detroit hosts Colorado on Tuesday…Chicago plays in Buffalo on Monday…Each team won three times in the series last season…Chicago center Patrick Sharp was not in the lineup due to an upper body injury…Detroit went 1-for-4 on the power play while Chicago was 1-for-5.