NHL PLAYOFFS : With Everything to Lose, Blackhawks Win

Only one team--Chicago--needed to win, and it showed in the play of both the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

Facing elimination from the Western Conference finals, the inspired Blackhawks outclassed the spiritless Red Wings and won, 5-2, Thursday night to force a fifth game.

The game was played before 22,738, the largest crowd yet at Chicago’s United Center.

“We had to win, and we came out very aggressive,” said Chicago captain Dirk Graham, whose first-period goal gave his team a 3-0 lead. “If they came out flat, good. I hope they come out flat next game too.”

Detroit goaltender Mike Vernon, abandoned by his defense, was upset that his team played so lethargically and now must wait until Sunday for another chance to wrap up the best-of-seven series.

“This was a great opportunity, and we just let it slip away,” he said. “You’ve got to give them credit, they were fired up and came out with a lot of zip. But we didn’t do our job.”

Vernon gave up four goals on 10 shots before being replaced by Chris Osgood 4:08 into the second period.

Denis Savard and Joe Murphy scored twice each for Chicago, aiming to become only the third team in NHL history to win a series after an 0-3 start.

“We weren’t just trying to save face. We’re trying to win this series,” Graham said.

The Red Wings, seeking their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals since 1966, didn’t know if Sergei Fedorov--last season’s league MVP and this year’s second-leading playoff scorer--would return for Game 5. Fedorov didn’t play after hurting his left shoulder and chest late in Game 3.

Captain Steve Yzerman came back after a three-game layoff because of a knee injury. But the Red Wings lost for only the second time in 13 playoff games and had an eight-game winning streak snapped.

The Blackhawks played most of the game without all-star center Jeremy Roenick, who left in the first period after twisting his left knee. An injury to the same knee kept Roenick out for a seven-week stretch that included the first round of the playoffs.