I watched the game but didn’t take notes so I only have a few comments.

… Dominik Hasek looked great last night, I thought. He made a number of key saves on some dangerous Blackhawk chances and kept the Wings in the game, especially in the first period. He was the victim of a great play by Duncan Keith to Radim Vrbata on the first goal, one that perhaps could have been better-defended by Mathieu Schneider and Niklas Kronwall. On the second goal, the Hawks got a lucky break as the puck bounced off Schneider and hit Hasek, who hadn’t gotten quite set after the puck went off the backboards, as he lost his balance.

… Pavel Datsyuk’s breakaway shorthanded goal in the third period was a thing of beauty, one of those goals that makes you laugh and shake your head in amazement. I had a smile on my face for a good 10 minutes afterward, even though the Hawks scored their second goal 1:29 later. Adrian Aucoin’s nightmare began there.

… It continued when Datsyuk’s pass deflected off his stick a few minutes later on its way to Henrik Zetterberg, who then put it past Nikolai Khabibulin to give the Wings a 3-2 lead at 13:38. The goal came on a delayed Chicago penalty and apparently the deflection off Aucoin’s stick was not enough possession to get a whistle.

… Aucoin’s night as goat of the game culminated in his fanning on a clearing attempt in the final minute with Khabibulin on the bench. Zetterberg picked up the puck and almost apologetically put it in the net to make it 4-2 Wings at 19:22. If it makes you feel any better, Adrian, Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been burning defensemen for two months now. You have a lot of company in that regard.

… Overall, I thought the Wings looked pretty good last night. The Hawks certainly had their moments, but most of that revolved around Martin Havlat and Hasek was generally up to the task. The Wings generated solid pressure on all four lines and played fairly physically. A good win and hopefully one that will give them momentum going into a busy weekend.

Dave at Gorilla Crouch also has a reaction to the game.

… At one point, Ken Daniels brought up the fact that Dominik Hasek will be playing back-to-back games soon. He said he doubted the Wings would start him this Friday and Saturday night, but suggested that they may go with Chris Osgood at home against Edmonton and Hasek on the road in Nashville. I can’t say I’d be in favor of that.  I still don’t like the idea of Dom playing when he isn’t able to go through his full pre-game routine, even if he’s been okay so far and has been cleared. Dom and the training staff know best, obviously, but it makes me uneasy.