Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

Power plays drain lifeless Stars in 4-1 loss

By TRACEY MYERS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DETROIT -- Maybe the Dallas Stars were feeling some fatigue from what was basically a doubleheader Sunday night. Whatever the reason, the Stars spent a lot of time playing catch-up Thursday.

With catch-up hockey comes catch-up penalties. And against the rested Detroit Red Wings, those mistakes don't go by the wayside.

Three Red Wings scored power-play goals, and Detroit beat the sluggish Stars 4-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Joe Louis Arena.

It's the first playoff series opener the Stars have lost this postseason.

"We were a step behind out there and we lost the battles," Stars center Mike Ribeiro said. "We didn't compete hard enough. [Our penalties] were mostly reaching or stick penalties, and that's something you can't do."

Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood stopped 20 of 21 shots for the victory.

The Red Wings, who haven't lost since Game 4 against the Nashville Predators in the first round, were ready to pounce from the start. They scored on three of their first five power plays, four of which were caused by hooking or holding calls.

"That's a result of being behind the game," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "When you're engaged in the game, you're doing things on the top level. We didn't have enough people there tonight."

The Stars had four power-play chances but came up empty each time. Brenden Morrow scored the Stars' lone goal, his eighth this postseason.

But the Stars were already down 4-0 when that goal came at the end of the second period.

Marty Turco allowed four goals on 31 shots, but Tippett said, "That had a lot to do with the team in front of him, not so much Marty."

And it had to do with Red Wings getting in front of him, too.

Tomas Holmstrom was in front of the net on two, creating a big shield on Brian Rafalski's 5-on-3 goal early in the first and tipping in Nicklas Lidstrom's offering in the second.

Johan Franzen scored his 12th goal of the postseason on a downward deflection of Niklas Kronvall's shot on a first-period power play.

"The willingness to pay the price, to battle for position, just to stand there dead-center where they're aiming is the biggest reason why they're successful, and anybody is," Turco said. "That's playoff hockey. That's something, as a team, we can overcome."

The Stars and Red Wings are on the same schedule again. Now the talk for the Stars focuses on getting a split on the road. They want to forget about this one and play the kind of hockey that got them here.

"If we would've gone five overtimes and played the best game of the year and lost, maybe you say we put everything out there. But we didn't," Brad Richards said. "If you don't get to that third-round, Stanley-Cup-Final type of level, throw the Xs and Os out. We're not going to get anywhere."

ONLINE: dallasstars.com

POWER OF THREE The Red Wings were deadly on the power play, converting three of their first five chances. Brian Rafalski scored the first with a 5-on-3 advantage.

BAD MO-JOE Stars goalie Marty Turco's struggles continued against the Red Wings. He is 0-8-2 at Joe Louis Arena and 2-11-5 overall against the Red Wings.

OSGOOD STILL GOOD Chris Osgood, who replaced Dominik Hasek in goal for the Red Wings in Game 5 of the opening round, has won seven straight this postseason.

Red Wings 4, Stars 1 Red Wings lead series 1-0 Game 2: 6 p.m. Saturday, Versus

BAD STARTS

The Stars have lost Game 1 of a playoff series by three or more goals seven times and lost each series. Only twice have they rebounded to win Game 2:

Year	Opponent	Round	Gm 1	Series
1970	St. Louis	Quarterfinals	L 6-2	4-2
1971	Montreal	Semifinals	L 7-2	4-2
1981	NY Islanders	Stanley Cup Finals	L 6-3	4-1
1983	Chicago	Division finals	L 5-2	4-1
1984	Edmonton	Conference finals	L 7-1	4-0
2000	New Jersey	Stanley Cup Finals	L 7-3	4-2
2006	Colorado	Conf. quarterfinals	L 5-2	4-1

THREE STARS

1. Tomas Holmstrom, Red Wings left wing: Had a goal and an assist and was a constant presence in front of the Stars' net.

2. Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings defenseman: Had two assists and was second on the team with 22:29 of ice time.

3. Niklas Kronwall, Red Wings defenseman: Recorded two assists and some crushing hits on Dallas forwards.