Game 25: Detroit 4 at Chicago 6

Eric Nesterenko notched a goal and three assists as Chicago Black Hawks erupted for a season-high six goals in a 6-4 win over Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Stadium.

Black Hawks (2-6-1) have the most feeble offense in the National League---averaging two goals per game entering the tilt with Red Wings---but that changed against Detroit (4-3-2), who missed a chance to move into a virtual tie for first place.

Black Hawks scored four unanswered goals after falling behind 3-1 in the first period.

Chicago's offense perked up right away at the start, as Nesterenko bagged a goal just 10 seconds into the game, rifling a shot over Glenn Hall's left shoulder.

But Red Wings responded less than two minutes later with a goal from Bill Dineen. Detroit added two more markers---at 6:08 and 7:54---before Ed Litzenberger scored for the second straight game at 15:57 to make it 3-2 Detroit after one period.

The second period was all Black Hawks, as they scored twice while piling up 16 shots on goal versus just three for Red Wings. Detroit had to kill off seven minutes' worth of power plays as well, including a five-minute boarding major against Marty Pavelich.

Hec Lalande tipped in a Nesterenko shot at 6:59 of the third period to make the score 5-3 Chicago. Gordie Howe, the league leader in points (14), responded with his second power play goal of the game at 8:54 to draw Detroit within one.

But Nick Mickoski salted the game away with his second goal of the night at 14:35, redirecting another Nesterenko shot past Hall.

Despite the win, Black Hawks continue to struggle on the power play. They went 0-for-5 and are 2-for-34 on the season with the man advantage.

1st Period
CHI- Nesterenko (Kennedy) :10
DET- Dineen (Godfrey, Ferguson) 2:01
DET- Howe (Ullman, Arbour) PPG 6:08
DET- Bucyk (Kelly, Dea) PPG 7:54
CHI- Litzenberger (Pilote, Wilson) 15:57

2nd Period
CHI- Mickoski (Martin, Lalande) 6:35
CHI- Watson (Nesterenko, Kennedy) 17:31

3rd Period
CHI- Lalande (Nesterenko, Mickoski) 6:59
DET- Howe (Lindsay, Godfrey) PPG 8:54
CHI- Mickoski (Nesterenko, Lalande) 14:35

SOG
DET 9-3-10 = 22
CHI 9-16-7 = 32

PP: DET 3-4; CHI 0-5

Goalies
DET- Hall
CHI- Rollins


Nesterenko scored four points in Black Hawks' big, unexpected win