Dallas Comeback Continues As Stars Win Game Five

If the playoffs were to end right now, Marty Turco would be my Conn Smythe Trophy winner for MVP of the  2008 playoffs.

He showed his MVP abilities as the Dallas Stars defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in game five of the Western Conference finals to cut the Detroit series' lead in half at 3-2.

Turco had 38 saves on 39 shots for an almost .975 save percentage, which is staggering, especially for someone who had never won an NHL game at Joe Louis Arena before this afternoon.  Turco also had the lone assist on the game winning goal, and a ghost assist on the first Dallas goal.

The national audience watching on NBC got a great look at two phenomenal teams that battled it out for three periods.  The game was exciting, fast, skilled, physical, and most of all, heart clenching.  Detroit fans needed a win to see another Stanley Cup final, and Dallas fans needed a win to see another playoff game in Dallas.  Game six will be in Dallas on Monday night at 8:00 EST on Versus.

Dallas opened the scoring as Trevor Daley put a slap shot past Chris Osgood to put the Stars on the board.  Marty Turco made an unbelievable pass from just outside the crease to Niklas Hagman at the red line, who went in on an odd-man rush with Brad Richards and Daley.  After a drop pass to Richards, he fired a pass over to Daley, who let loose a laser that beat Osgood.

Detroit responded quickly, with a goal of their own on the power play.  Valtteri Filppula gave the puck to Niklas Kronwall, who gave a pass to Jiri Hudler in the crease.  After missing the first shot attempt, Hudler got his own rebound and tipped it in to tie the game.

The game winning goal, however, was started again by Marty Turco, who got the puck to Joel Lundqvist, who released a snap shot that found its way by Chris Osgood.

The game was an extremely physical one as well, with highlight hits by Detroit's Niklas Kronwall. Kronwall has been physical throughout the playoffs, and Dallas Drake, who delivered a painful open-ice check in the first period.  There were only 22 penalty minutes throughout the game, but there were many brawls and scrums after the whistles against the boards and behind the net.

The game was an even matchup, with each team having their bursts of momentum and great play.  Both teams played extremely well throughout the entire game, yet Dallas was still able to come out on top, preventing Detroit from winning the series and forcing game six.