Enlarge By Paul Sancya, AP Darren Helm celebrates with Red Wings teammate Tomas Holmstrom after scoring the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.  (2) DETROIT VS. (4) CHICAGO Game 1 -- Detroit 5, Chicago 2 Game 2 -- Detroit 3, Chicago 2 (OT) Game 3 -- Chicago 4, Detroit 3 (OT) Game 4 -- Detroit 6, Chicago 1 Game 5 -- Detroit 2, Chicago 1 (OT) (all times Eastern) -- Playoff essentials: Red Wings stats | Blackhawks stats | Matchups NHL playoffs gallery  2009 NHL PLAYOFFS 2008-09 photos: Conference finals | Playoffs second round | Playoffs first round | Crosby vs. Ovechkin Playoff schedule: Game times and results by series | Archive: See 2008 results by series Third intermission: Some tips on containing Crosby and Malkin Interact with Kevin Allen: Allen's latest column | "Mucking and Grinding" blog covers the playoffs | Allen playoff audio analysis Playoff capsules: Eastern Conference | Western Conference Playoff essentials: View series matchups | Playoff stats | USA TODAY's Countdown to the Playoffs

During a second-period penalty to Brett Lebda, Helm ragged the puck behind the Chicago Blackhawks' net for 25-30 seconds and then brought it in front and rammed a shot on goal.

"He's like the Energizer Bunny," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "His feet hit the ice, and he's going full out."

Helm also had 12 hits, eight more than any teammate, during 16 minutes of playing time. He had seven more hits than anyone in the Chicago lineup. He wouldn't have been playing that many minutes if not for the fact that Detroit centers Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper are injured.

Detroit's depth has been a major element in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive season. A few hours before Wednesday's game, the Red Wings found out that defensive regular Jonathan Ericcson needed an appendectomy.

With Nicklas Lidstrom (undisclosed injury) also out of the lineup, the Red Wings essentially played four defensemen —Brian Rafalski (29:31), Niklas Kronwall (28:22), Brad Stuart (27:51) and Lebda (25:05). Chris Chelios played about 10 minutes and Derek Meech played sparingly.

Dan Cleary also scored his eighth goal, which is one more than he had totaled during his five previous playoff campaigns.

"This time of year, you need contributions from everyone and we got that tonight," Stuart said.

Forward Kirk Maltby says every year the news media ask him what the Wings need to be successful and he always responds goals from depth players. Helm fits that description because he spent most of the season in the American Hockey League.

"I think he's the kind of player that people in Michigan, in Detroit in particular, can relate to," Babcock said. "He's a blue-collar guy. Goes out there and works hard. Gives an honest day's work."

Helm, already one of the NHL's fastest players, was congratulated as much by his teammates for his penalty killing as for his goal. The Red Wings had given up one power-play goal in 13 consecutive games before Game 5.

"I just try not to get left in the dust with him," Maltby said. "I look down there and he's ducking and diving in the corner. He almost scored. It was a great game and it was fitting that he scored the overtime goal."