ulation or otherwise -- at any point this season before dropping Games 2, 3 and 4 to the Red Wings. Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard has been a cl

(Sports Network) - With a win Saturday night in Game 5 at Chicagos United Center, the seventh-seeded Detroit Red Wings can complete the biggest upset of the 2013 postseason. The Red Wings have built a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series, pushing the top-seeded Blackhawks -- this years Presidents Trophy winners -- to the brink of elimination. This series started off as expected, with Chicago pasting the Red Wings by a 4-1 score in Game 1. However, Detroit began a three-game winning streak with a 4-1 win of its own in Game 2 before winning two straight on home ice to take a commanding lead in the series. The Blackhawks set an NHL record by going 24 straight games (21-0-3) without a regulation loss to open the season. They never lost three straight -- in regulation or otherwise -- at any point this season before dropping Games 2, 3 and 4 to the Red Wings. Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard has been a clear difference-maker for his team in this series and he posted 28 saves for his second career playoff shutout in Thursdays 2-0 win at Joe Louis Arena. "He was real solid for us and gave us a great opportunity to win," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock about Howard. "We werent very good in the first period and I dont know why, but he was there for us and from that point on I think we played much better." Jakub Kindl scored the game-winner, while Daniel Cleary added an empty-netter for the Red Wings, who will try to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2009 on Saturday. Detroit made it to the Stanley Cup finals in 2009, but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games after beating the Pens for the title the previous season. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are in the second round this season for the first time since winning a Cup in 2010, but they could be headed for an earlier than expected exit on Saturday. Corey Crawford gave up just one goal on 26 shots in Game 4 for the Blackhawks and he believes the tide can still turn in favor of his team. "I think everyone is a little angry," said Crawford. "I thought we played really well tonight, but were not getting any bounces. We had a bunch off the post and that pretty much just sums it up for us the last couple of games. Were doing a lot of good things and we just cant give up." Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, who has yet to score a goal in this postseason, had a bad night on Thursday, as he took three penalties -- two hi- sticking infractions and a hook -- over a span of less than six minutes in the second period. One of the penalties led to the power-play goal by Kindl. "Emotions run high in some of these games, and my stick got a little loose there," Toews said. "I was playing hard. Sometimes that happens." Kindls goal was the first power-play tally surrendered by Chicago in these playoffs. The Blackhawks enter Game 5 having killed off 31 of the oppositions 32 chances with the man advantage. Chicago is 4-1 as the home team in the postseason after going 18-3-3 at the United Center during the regular season. The Red Wings are 3-3 on the road in the playoffs and went 11-9-4 as the road team in 2013. If necessary, Game 6 is scheduled for Monday in Detroit. Ashley Williams Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Ashley Williams Wales Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/aaron-ramsey-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Joe Allen Wales Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Custom Wales Soccer Jerseys . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. The San Francisco Giants even-year magic ran out earlier this week as the National League wild-card winners succumbed to the Chicago Cubs in what turned out to be a four-game division series. It was San Franciscos first postseason series loss since 2003.Four days after the ouster, Giants president & CEO Larry Baer wrote an open letter to fans in which he expressed a variety of thoughts about the 2016 season as well as the teams outlook for 2017.Though we exited the playoffs earlier than we hoped, Im proud that once again our team, led by future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy, never stopped fighting. If anything illustrates what Bochy calls champion blood in their DNA, it is their success in do-or-die games. Their streak of 10 straight victories in elimination games is the longest in Major League history.After entering the All-Star break with the best record in baseball, the Giants faltered considerably in the second half and barely sneaked into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season as the second wild card.San Francisco defeated the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game on the streength of Conor Gillaspies dramatic three-run home run in the ninth inning.dddddddddddd Baer cited the game-winning hit as yet another example of the Giants summoning surprise performances from players up and down the lineup.But in the division series against the Cubs, the Giants Achilles heel -- their bullpen -- let them down, most notably in Game 4. Baer notes this and writes that improving such will be a priority this winter.The primary and obvious focus in the off-season is to fortify the bullpen. As we were reminded this week, no team can win without a strong, reliable bullpen. Under the outstanding leadership of Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans, we will actively pursue options, whether through free agency or trades, to add to our young arms.In short, we will pursue every opportunity and commit the necessary resources to field the best possible team to get back to the playoffs in 2017.Baer succeeded Bill Neukom as head of the franchise on Jan. 1, 2012.-- Nick Ostiller ' ' '