DETROIT ? For a pivotal 13-second burst, the Detroit Red Wings rediscovered the game that only elite teams can play. What must worry Carolina is they proved they can play the Hurricanes’ game, too.

The Red Wings, in danger of going down two games to one of the biggest underdogs in finals history, got goals from Nicklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper 13 seconds apart late in the third period to beat Carolina, 3-1, in Game Two on Thursday night and even the best-of-seven series.

Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom celebrates the Red Wings' second goal. Detroit evened the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals with a 3-1 victory against Carolina in Game Two on Thursday in Detroit.

Just as it seemed Carolina might force yet another overtime, where the Hurricanes are 7-1 this postseason, the Red Wings found the explosiveness that marked their Presidents’ Trophy-winning season and made them such overwhelming favorites going into the finals.

Perhaps just in time, too. The Red Wings had lost three of their last four home playoff games, while Carolina had won six straight road games, including its 3-2 victory in Game One on Tuesday.

“We told ourselves we had to come out and play a solid third period, keep throwing the puck at the net and hope it goes in on the power play,” said Kirk Maltby, who scored for the second straight game. “I like the way we persevered through first couple of periods and didn’t get frustrated.”

Game Three will be Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C., where until now the ACC basketball championship had been the biggest event around.

“The second game is a key game. Even when you get the first one, the second is tough to get,” said Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, who got his 33rd finals victory, one short of former Montreal coach Toe Blake’s record.

Repeatedly denied on excellent scoring chances for more than 50 minutes by Carolina goalie Arturs Irbe and 0-for-6 on the power play until then, the Red Wings finally took the lead when Lidstrom, their Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, one-timed Sergei Fedorov’s pass over Irbe’s glove and under the crossbar at 14:52 on the power play.

It was the only goal by either team on the power play.