Eleven nights ago, as they were nursing a two-goal lead, the Blackhawks saw Brett Hull score at the 12-minute-23-second mark of the third period to begin a three-goal rally resulting in an overtime victory for the Detroit Red Wings.
But Wednesday night they didn’t let it happen again as the Hawks, frustrated with overtime losses in the last two meetings against Detroit, won 4-1 in front of a standing-room home crowd of 21,391.
Instead of being on their heels in the third period, the Hawks kept the Red Wings at bay, finally driving a stake through them with Mark Bell’s short-handed goal at 15:06 of the third.
The victory pulled the Hawks to within five points of first-place Detroit in the Central Division, and three points behind the second-place Blues, whom they meet Saturday in St. Louis.
Detroit and Chicago won’t meet again until the final game of the regular season at the United Center.
In their first four games, the Hawks have outscored Detroit 13-10, winning both of their games in regulation and collecting points in every game.
Goalie Jocelyn Thibault made 26 saves and Alex Zhamnov, Chris Simon and Eric Daze each scored.
