Stars topple Red Wings 3-1

Saturday, December 13, 2008-12:46:am
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page                            

It may have looked like a mismatch on paper, but on the ice it was a much different story. Behind a 37-save performance by Marty Turco and goals from two Swedish rookies, the banged up Dallas Stars toppled the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 at the American Airlines Center Friday night.

"We competed hard, we played well as a group and got great goaltending," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "That's going to have to be the formula for our team right now. It's as simple as that. Our goaltending has to be good. We have to be as efficient as we can as a group, find a way to score some goals and defend like crazy. That's what we did tonight."

Turco was rock solid in net, stopping 31 shots over the final two periods when the Red Wings stepped up the pressure after falling behind in the game.

"He was so solid," said Tippet. "There were a couple scrambles around the net but he cleaned everything up. I thought our defense did a great job of blocking some shots and making efficient plays out of our end."

Turco improved to 3-10-5 against the Red Wings in his career and the Stars, who were missing six regular players due to injury, won for the fifth time in their last eight games.

"We did a good job of blocking shots, being responsible defensively and giving a great honest effort," said Turco. "Personally, it felt great tonight and it's a big 2 points that we need to build on tomorrow night [against Nashville]."

Tom Wandell and Fabian Brunnstrom scored goals 1:40 part in the second period to erase a 1-0 Detroit lead and Turco and the Stars held the fort the rest of the way, holding off the high octane Red Wings attack.

"Our second period was great. We defended well and Marty was great," said Stars center Mike Modano. "It's a big confidence builder for us."

The Red Wings struck 6:05 into the game when Brett Lebda pinched in the from the blue line, took a pass from Jiri Hudler and scored into the open side of the net.

The Stars missed on a 1:47 five-on-three power play late in the first period, but they struck for two quick goals in the second period to take the lead that would hold up for the rest of the night.

Off some good forecheck pressure in the Detroit zone, Wandell got to a loose puck in the left circle, moved into the slot and scored off a backhand shot at the 5:47 mark.

"I really can't describe the feeling right now," said Wandell, who scored his first NHL game in his second NHL game. "I have to wake up first."

Brunnstrom gave the Stars the lead for good when he came streaking across the Detroit blue line, took a pass from Mike Ribeiro, shook off a defender to get an open shot and ripped a shot past Red Wings goalie Ty Conklin at the 7:27 mark.

"I got a great pass from Ribeiro and I faked the shot first and shot I right away," said Brunnstrom, who has nine goals on the season. "It was a great pass and it was fun to score."

The Red Wings called a timeout after that goal and stepped up the pressure but they could never get a puck past Turco. Marian Hossa missed the net on a power play and Johan Franzen hit a post on a backhand shot, but that was as close as they got.

Ribeiro sealed the win with an empty net goal with 1:00 remaining in the game.

The Red Wings saw a four-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 19-5-4 on the season.

"Every time we've come in here in the last few years it's always a battle for first place or a Stanley Cup playoff game," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "We knew we were going to have a battle. That's a proud team."

Notes: The Stars were without defenseman Stephane Robidas for the game. The Stars announced earlier in the day that he had a broken jaw and would be out at least one week. ...