May 12, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall (55) moves the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings’ version of a “Big Three,” consisting of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Jimmy Howard, came through in enough crucial spots to propel the team to a first round upset of the Anaheim Ducks. To have any chance of doing the same to the NHL’s top regular season team, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Wings really need that trio to become a foursome.

Specifically, it would be helpful if defenseman Niklas Kronwall upped his level of play in the second round of the playoffs. Detroit’s blue line leader was solid in Round 1, but he definitely didn’t play like someone who some writers thought might be a Norris Trophy candidate earlier in the season (and by “some writers,” I mean me).

Everyone enjoyed the big hit on Kyle Palmieri during Game 4 that led to “You got Kronwalled!” chants ringing out through Joe Louis Arena. Open ice collisions have always been a key part of Kronwall’s game, and even though he doesn’t seem to look for them as often as in previous years, their threat helps keep opposing players skating with their heads on swivels.

Kronwall didn’t shy away from putting his body on the line against the Ducks, averaging more than two hits and two blocked shots per game. And he did it while maintaining his discipline, staying out of the penalty box for the entire series despite logging the most ice time of any defenseman.

No problems there. You can even forgive his -2 overall against Anaheim since it was at least partially caused by his fellow blueliners committing some cringe-worthy turnovers, often in their own end.

It’s on offense where Kronwall has to contribute more. One assist in seven games simply isn’t cutting it for a guy who at times during 2013 flirted with being the top scoring d-man in the entire NHL. Kronwall has a booming shot and needs to let it go more often against the Blackhawks – particularly on the power play, where the Wings’ lack of options continually (and dangerously) has them using forwards Damien Brunner and Mikael Samuelsson to man one of the points.

Maybe it’s unfair to ask Kronwall to do everything he’s been doing and chip in more scoring, but the fact is that the Red Wings need him to do it. Chicago has multiple blueliners who can join the rush and aid their forwards. Detroit has… well, just Kronwall right now. Danny DeKeyser was moving the puck well, but he’s out for the playoffs and wasn’t exactly piling up points even before he went down to injury. Ian White is so far in the doghouse (for a reason, but still) that he probably doesn’t even remember where the door is located.

That makes it Kronwall or bust when it comes to offense from the defense. So to sum up, the team needs him to play tons of minutes against Chicago’s top forwards, play physically without taking penalties, jump up in the play more while staying smart about it, and find a way to either score or set up more goals.

It’s a lot to ask, possibly too much. Considering what they’re up against, the Red Wings are going to have to hope he can answer it all anyway.

May 10, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40) is is mobbed by teammates after scoring a goal in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks in game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings let one get away with them during Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks. They couldn’t afford to do it again at home for Game 6 on Friday night, because the series, and their season would have been over.

Despite that urgency, they almost blew it anyway, allowing two goals in 51 seconds in the third period to allow a 3-1 lead to evaporate. For the fourth time in the series, the game went to overtime, and for the third time, the Red Wings pulled it out. Henrik Zetterberg‘s second goal of the game won it just 1:04 into the extra frame, and the teams will meet in Anaheim for Game 7 on Sunday.

Pavel Datsyuk and Kyle Palmieri scored the goals that had the contest knotted 1-1 headed into the third period. Zetterberg untied it with his first tally of the series at 6:19, a power play goal that came with Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller screened by Johan Franzen.

Shortly after the Ducks killed off another penalty, the Red Wings struck again in somewhat surprising fashion. After Valtteri Filppula sent a puck through the Anaheim crease, Justin Abdelkader spun along the boards and fired a shot that took advantage of a Dan Cleary screen (and may have hit him) to put the home team up 3-1.

That gave Detroit only 9:30 to protect a two-goal lead, but it disintegrated in less than a minute. First a bad backwards pass by Filppula behind his own net was scooped up and jammed in by a waiting Emerson Etem. Then 51 seconds later, another turnover – aided by what appeared to be a blatant trip on Kyle Quincey – ended with the puck on the stick of Bobby Ryan to net his second goal of the series from close range.

Zetterberg had a chance to end it in regulation when he stole a puck in the Anaheim end and put a shot off the post. He made no mistake on his next shot, the first real one of overtime, when he took a short pass from Niklas Kronwall and blasted a long slap shot by Hiller.

Jimmy Howard also came up big with 34 saves as the Ducks outshot the Red Wings 37-29. The Red Wings were 1-for-3 with the man advantage and didn’t have to send out their penalty killers at all, as the officials seemed content to let the players play unless the infractions were too obvious not to call.

Now it seems only fitting that a series as closely contested as this one will go to a Game 7. The time and network will be determined as the Red Wings travel West again, trying to advance to the second round.

The game was over when…

Zetterberg refused to let his team lose. The team needed its captain to lead by example in its hour of need, and he certainly did that. Kudos also to the screeners on the goals, something that will need to continue on Sunday.

The unsung Red Wings hero was…

Let’s make it heroes, plural, for this one. The kid line of Gustav Nyquist, Joakim Andersson and Damien Brunner didn’t score any goals, but Mike Babcock gave them plenty of ice time, including starting the first two periods on the ice against Anaheim’s top unit. They didn’t disappoint, as they were lively and dangerous for nearly the whole game.