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The Detroit Red Wings crushed the Chicago Blackhawks 6-1 to move within a game of their second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup finals.

"Obviously we're really hopeful that we're going to be able to close out the 'Hawks. But they're a good team. They're going to bounce back and play us hard," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock.

Winger Marian Hossa starred with two goals for the Red Wings, including a rare short-handed shot to open the scoring at 8:41 and another just 12 seconds after a Chicago scored in the second period to chip into Detroit's 3-0 lead.

"I thought in particular the fourth goal put a knife in 'em," said Babcock.

The Slovakian Hossa, who had gone six games without a goal, said he was aware of the need to step up with teammates Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom sidelined by injury.

"I had to drive to the net more often, be more dangerous, be more physical ... I told myself I just had to play more relaxed. Play with more instinct," Hossa said.

Detroit's Johan Franzen contributed a team-high 10th goal of the playoffs and Valterri Filppula chipped in with a goal and two assists before center Henrick Zetterberg nabbed the Red Wings' final two goals, both on powerplays.

"We tried to play with poise, and we tried to play physical hockey," Zetterberg said.

The smothering Red Wings defense frustrated the young Chicago team, which was slapped with 16 penalties to Detroit's seven and outplayed on most key measures.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews avoided the shutout with a backhanded tip-in of Cam Barker's slapshot past Detroit goalie Chris Osgood at 3:53 in the second period.

But Osgood stopped 18 of 19 Blackhawk shots before being rested for the final period due to dehydration. Backup Ty Conklin fended off nine Chicago shots.

By contrast, the Blackhawks felt the absence of top goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, whose condition is described as day-to-day from a lower-body injury.

Backup Cristobal Huet split time on the ice with Corey Crawford, who spent most of the season playing with the minor league Rockford IceHogs. Detroit's six goals came on 33 shots.

Game Five will be in Detroit on Wednesday. A win would put the Red Wings in the finals, most likely against Pittsburgh, which holds a 3-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.

"We've got a lot of history in these play-offs and we're learning as we go. This is obviously a huge hole that we haven't faced or seen yet," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville.

Reuters