For the first time since Detroit last won the Stanley Cup in 2002, the Red Wings return to the Stanley Cup Finals. This year’s team has proven to be a bit tougher than years past and has not had to rely fully on Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. While ‘The Mule,’ Johan Franzen was only able to play in game one because of concussion like symptoms, the Red Wings secondary scoring, and great goaltending from Chris Osgood, propelled them into the next round.The Red Wings started off game 1 by taking full advantage of the Dallas Stars shooting themselves in the foot. The first three goals of the game were scored on the power play as Brian Rafalski, Franzen, and Tomas Holmstrom each were able to put the puck in the back of the net. Valtteri Filppula then added another goal with five minutes to go in the second period to give Detroit a 4-0 lead. It wasn’t until 18:30 of the period that Dallas got on the board as Captain Brendan Morrow cut the lead to three. But that was all Dallas would get as Detroit kept pounding away, and won the game 4-1.
While the scoreboard was close at the end of game 2, the game was anything but. Detroit continued their first period barrage as they outshot the Stars 12-4 in the first period. 5:56 into the period, Jiri Hudler stole the puck at center ice and passed it to a flying Darren Helm who buried the puck top shelf on Turco. Midway through the period, a Stephane Robidas slapshot on the power play found it’s was past Osgood into the back of the net to tie the game at 1. Henrik Zetterberg answered with a power play goal shortly thereafter and the Red Wings led 2-1. In the second period, Dallas couldn’t take advantage of any of their five power plays given to them by Detroit. Osgood was stellar again, when he had to be, and the Wings won 2-1.
The two teams traveled to the Lone Star State for their matchup in game 3 where Datsyuk and Zetterberg played their best games of the playoffs. Datsyuk scored two first period goals and the Red Wings led 2-1 after one. While both teams each scored in the second period, it was Detroit who took over in the third. Zetterberg first scored an unassisted shorthanded goal, then, towards the end of the period, kept the puck away from four Dallas players and fed the puck to Datsyuk for his first career hat trick. Detroit won 5-2 and went up 3-0 in the series. As game 4 started it was Dallas with all the momentum in the first period. But again, they could not capitalize on any of their three power plays. The first goal was so important in this series (team scoring first was 6-0 in the series) and Detroit seemed to had scored it. Datsyuk’s power play goal was waved off for Holmstrom being in the crease (when he clearly was not and had not even touched Turco). Nevertheless, Dallas took advantage of the call and scored with 23 seconds left in the second period. While Zetterberg tied the game up early in the third, Dallas was too strong at home as they cored two more goals to win the game 3-1.
Returning to Detroit for game 5, Marty Turco proved to be the best player in the game. He not only set up the first goal of the game but assisted on the game-winning goal in the second period as well. Trevor Daley started the scoring in the first, but only six minutes later, Jiri Hudler responded on the power play. Joel Lundqvist took a pass from the afore mentioned Turco and scored to break the tie in the second period, and that’s all Dallas would need. Turco made 38 stops on the Red Wings as they threw 39 shots on the Stars and controlled the faceoffs too. The Stars won the game 2-1 to force game 6.
In Dallas for game 6, it was really never a game. The Stars’ best period was the third period, and by then they were down and out. Detroit came out of the gates right after Dallas and outshot the Stars 13-6 in the first, including three goals. Kris Draper started the scoring by deflecting a puck off his chin and into the net. Datsyuk and Dallas Drake also scored the Red Wings a 3-0 lead. Henrik Zetterberg scored a shorthanded, breakaway goal in the second period to give Detroit a 4-0 lead. The Stars scored a goal early in the third, as they needed to mount a comeback. Controlling much of the play in the third, Osgood proved to be too tough to beat, and the Red Wings won the game 4-1 and the series in 6.
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