Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Game 7: X-Factors for Each Team

The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings both have X-factors waiting to take over the decisive Game 7, and whoever steps up will book their ticket to the Western Conference Final. 

Blackhawks fans—well, and any fans of epic NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey who aren't Red Wings fans—are elated after a two-game winning streak has forced a Game 7. Players you wouldn't expect, like Bryan Bickell, who scored the game-winner, ended up making major contributions in Game 6.

Let's take a look at the biggest X-factors for each team heading into Game 7. 

Red Wings: Damien Brunner

It feels weird to call the player who leads Detroit in goals for the playoffs an X-factor, but the Blackhawks aren't giving Damien Brunner enough attention.

With Detroit losing hope in Game 6 after Chicago's furious third-period rally, Brunner notched a big goal with less than a minute left that gave the Red Wings a breath of life. They ended up not coming back, but the goal might have taken some of the momentum away from Chicago for Game 7.

The center often plays behind Pavel Datsyuk and Valtteri Filppula, but he's proven just as able as each of those solid centers in their 2013 playoff run and has come up big all series against the Blackhawks.

Now with their backs against the wall in a decisive Game 7, the Wings will look to Brunner to light the lamp again.

Red Wings: Jakub Kindl

It's been a team effort to replace the recently departed defensive star and captain Nicklas Lidström all season, and one of the biggest contributors to that task as of late has been defenseman Jakub Kindl.

The big-bodied D-man who stands at 6'3" and 216 pounds has logged at least 16:51 of ice time in every game this series, proving able to handle the physical rigors of this series while contributing with a goal and four assists in these playoffs.

It would normally be Lidström's job to anchor the defense and get it ready for a decisive game like this, but with that void now needing to be filled, Kindl will have to help shoulder some of the load.

If Kindl can move around the puck at the blue line and dominate defensively like he has been able to at times this series, the Red Wings may be headed for the Western Conference Final. 

Blackhawks: Patrick Kane

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane hasn't been in much of the talk in these playoffs due to his paltry two goals.

Although, the exciting youngster tends to step up his game in the biggest moments. 

What bigger moment than a Game 7 against your bitter rivals for a chance to enter hockey's final four and move one step closer to a Stanley Cup?

The Blackhawks have relied on all sorts of different players at times this series to fill the scoring void left by Jonathan Toews and Kane, but it's time for Kane to step up and take over the moment for his team.

Blackhawks: Niklas Hjalmarsson

Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson doesn't get the credit very often, but he might have as much of an impact on their games as any other player.

Hjalmarsson consistently plays 20-plus minutes in games, and that number only increases the bigger the occasion. Case in point: He notched 24:16 of ice time in Game 6 as the Blackhawks came from behind in the third period. 

His effect when on the ice shows, as he has a team-high plus-six rating in these playoffs. 

Games like this are decided by what you won't see on the stat sheet—things like loose pucks and anchoring the defense. Those are the ways that Hjalmarsson impacts the game most, and that's why he'll play a huge role in Game 7.

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