Detroit-Dallas: Wings Win Game One, Turco Left Seeing Stars

The Detroit Red Wings made Marty Turco's night in Dallas' net a miserable one in Game One of the Western Conference final on Thursday.

The Red Wings charged the crease repeatedly en route to a 4-1 victory over a tired group of Stars.

There was little left in the tank for Dallas versus Detroit only three days following their six-game elimination of the San Jose Sharks.  In that series, game six went to a fourth overtime before Brendan Morrow notched the clinching goal.

Morrow was the lone Star to beat a steady Chris Osgood.  Brian Rafalski, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom and Valterri Filppula scored for Detroit.

Franzen continues his impressive goal-scoring streak in these playoffs. He notched his 12th of the post-season to give the Wings a 2-0 first period lead. 

Against Colorado in the last round, Franzen scored a playoff record nine goals in Detroit's four-game sweep of the Avalanche.  That broke a record set by former Wing legend Gordie Howe, who did in both 1949 and 1964.

He also became the last player to record two or more hat-tricks in one playoff series since Edmonton's Jari Kurri accomplished the feat against the Chicago Blackhawks back in 1985.  Kurri had three hat-tricks versus the Blackhawks. 

Detroit scored three times on the power play in five attempts, including a controversial marker by Holmstrom in the second period.  Holmstrom, who makes his home in opposition creases, was clearly on top on Stars' goalie Turco when a Niklas Lidstrom shot deflected off his leg.

Any argument by Turco with referee Bill McCreary fell on deaf ears and the goal was allowed to stand.

Overall, Detroit outshot Dallas, 31-21, and won for the seventh straight time on home ice in the post-season.

Game two of this series goes Saturday in Detroit.  Games three and four are scheduled in Dallas on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.