Red Wings strike back against Hurricanes

DETROIT (AP) -- This wasn't how the Detroit Red Wings envisioned the Stanley Cup finals going, not at all.

They lost Game 1 to the underdog Carolina Hurricanes, then found themselves trapped in a Carolina-style game late in the third period of Game 2.

Their $65 million cast of superstars and certifiable Hall of Famers was strangely quiet. Even as they went on power play after power play, they couldn't convert. In a series many predicted them to sweep, there was an ever-growing possibility they would lose the first two games at home.

Talk about being caught in the eye of a storm.

So, desperate to avoid going into an extra period against a team that rarely loses in overtime, the Red Wings generated goals by All-Star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper 13 seconds apart to beat Carolina 3-1 Thursday night and even the best-of-seven finals.

In a series that so far has been played at Carolina's pace, with the low-scoring games the Hurricanes prefer and a much-greater emphasis on skill-neutralizing defense than creative offense, it was an explosive reminder of how good the Red Wings can be.

Carolina 1 0 0 -- 1

Detroit 1 0 2 -- 3

First Period--1, Detroit, Maltby 3 (Draper, Chelios), 6:33 (sh). 2, Carolina, Brind'Amour 4, 14:47 (sh). Penalties--Draper, Det (boarding), 1:25; Duchesne, Det (holding), 5:21; Hill, Car (slashing), 6:33; Svoboda, Car (roughing), 14:03; Hill, Car (holding), 16:23.

Second Period--None. Penalties--Battaglia, Car (holding), 1:05; Duchesne, Det (tripping), 3:55; Detroit bench, served by Devereaux (too many men), 7:23; Gelinas, Car (interference), 10:10; Ward, Car (holding), 18:03.

Third Period--3, Detroit, Lidstrom 5 (Fedorov, Yzerman), 14:52 (pp). 4, Detroit, Draper 2 (Lidstrom, Olausson), 15:05. Penalties--Fischer, Det (high-sticking), 9:38; Gelinas, Car (slashing), 14:00; Fischer, Det (slashing), 17:15; Battaglia, Car (charging), 17:45; Brind'Amour, Car (roughing), 19:33; Cole, Car (roughing), 19:33; Maltby, Det (roughing), 19:33; Chelios, Det (roughing), 19:33; McCarty, Det (roughing), 19:33; Hull, Det (tripping), 19:41.

Shots on goal--Carolina 7-4-6--17. Detroit 9-8-13--30.

Power-play Opportunities--Carolina 0 of 8; Detroit 1 of 8.

Goalies--Carolina, Irbe 10-5 (30 shots-27 saves). Detroit, Hasek 13-7 (17-16)

A--20,058 (19,983).

Referees--Paul Devorski, Don Koharski. Linesmen--Brad Lazarowich, Jean Morin.