Lidstrom, Wings defeat 'Hawks

Mark Hartigan also scored and Jiri Hudler notched a goal with an assist for the Red Wings, who finished the season as the Presidents' Trophy winners with a record of 54-21-7 for 115 points. Detroit will open the Western Conference playoffs on Thursday at home against Nashville.

Patrick Kane scored the lone goal for Chicago, which concluded the season at 40-34-8 and will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Blackhawks did, however, have their best season since posting 96 points in 2001-02.

Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 34 shots in defeat.

The Red Wings grabbed a 1-0 lead just 7:21 into the game. Brett Lebda made a nice move to pinch from the right point, pushing the puck behind the net to Darren McCarty, who sent a pass to the front of the net. Hudler was unchecked and quickly sent it past Khabibulin for his 13th goal of the season.

Hasek needed to stop just six shots in the first period and came up with a brilliant save seven minutes into the second when he stacked the pads and slid across the crease to deny Kane's redirection attempt from in front.

Detroit then cashed in a two-man advantage with 1:31 left in the middle stanza to open a two-goal edge. Hudler had the puck at the side of the cage below the left circle and sent a pass back to the top of the circle for Lidstrom, who ripped a one-timer past a screened Khabibulin for his ninth goal.

Hartigan scored unassisted at 6:28 of the third when he intercepted a clearing pass by Khabibulin and beat the scrambling netminder with a shot from the slot for his third goal.

Lidstrom made it 4-0 with just under six minutes remaining on a power play, as his shot from the left point deflected off the skate of Chicago's Duncan Keith.

Only Kane's power-play goal with 2:20 remaining spoiled Hasek's shutout bid. It was the rookie's 21st goal of the season.

Game Notes

Chicago still finished 5-3 against Detroit this season and captured the season series for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign...The Blackhawks wrapped up their road slate at 17-18-6...Detroit finished its home schedule 29-9-3.