Red Wings make it look easy in opener

By Larry Lage, Associated Press

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Johan Franzen, Brian Rafalski and Tomas Holmstrom scored power-play goals for the Detroit Red Wings, who built a big lead in the second period and coasted to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday night.

After Valtteri Filppula put the top-seeded Red Wings ahead 4-0, Brenden Morrow scored with a minute left in the second period to prevent the fifth-seeded Stars from getting shut out.

Game 2 is Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena, where Stars goalie Marty Turco is 0-8-2 in his NHL career.

Turco made 27 saves while Detroit's Chris Osgood turned away 20 shots.

Dallas upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks in the first round and then topped the second-seeded San Jose Sharks after starting both series with road wins.

The way the Franzen-led Red Wings are playing - winning seven straight - they're going to be tough to beat in any rink.

Franzen's 12th goal extended his team postseason scoring record, and the player known as Mule matched another club mark by finding the net for a fifth straight game.

Gordie Howe pulled off the feat in 1949 and '64. Ted Lindsay scored in five consecutive games in 1952.

Franzen has 15 points in the playoffs, tying Jaromir Jagr of the already-eliminated New York Rangers.

The Red Wings were so dominant in the first two periods it looked as though they had a man advantage in even-strength situations. They also created scoring chances while killing penalties.

The Stars struggled to skate with Detroit, leading to early hooking and holding penalties that were costly.

With Detroit enjoying a two-man advantage, Rafalski scored 4:28 into the game after a shot by Nicklas Lidstrom caromed off the post directly to him between the circles.

Franzen and Holmstrom both scored by standing in front and redirecting shots past Turco, who was serenaded with jeers of "Turrr-co! Turrr-co!" by fans early and often.

Red Wings 4, Stars 1

Dallas0 1 0 - 1

Detroit2 2 0 - 4

First period - 1, Det, Rafalski 2 (Lidstrom, Holmstrom), 4:28 (pp). 2, Det, Franzen 12 (Kronwall, Hudler), 15:34 (pp). Penalties - Kronwall, Det (hooking), 1:11; Norstrom, Dal (hooking), 3:45; Fistric, Dal (roughing), 4:19; Holmstrom, Det (interference), 7:52; Petersen, Dal (holding), 13:56; Modano, Dal (hooking), 18:30.

Second period - 3, Det, Holmstrom 3 (Lidstrom, Zetterberg), 6:40 (pp). 4, Det, Filppula 3 (Samuelsson, Kronwall), 15:37. 5, Dal, Morrow 8 (Ott), 18:53. Penalties - Ribeiro, Dal (hooking), 6:14; Lidstrom, Det (hooking), 10:22.

Third period - None. Penalties - Zetterberg, Det (high-sticking), 2:04; Winchester, Dal (slashing), 19:19; Ott, Dal (holding), 19:30.

Shots - Dal 4-11-6 - 21. Det 12-13-6 - 31. Power plays - Dal 0 of 4; Det 3 of 7. Goalies - Dal, Turco 8-5 (31 shots-27 saves). Det, Osgood 7-0 (21-20). A - 20,066 (20,066). T - 2:22.

Referees - Kevin Pollock, Bill McCreary. Linesmen - Pierre Racicot, Jean Morin.