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Datsyuk helps Red Wings clinch playoff berth

Mar 14, 2008 - 3:56 AM By Chuck Klonke PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DETROIT (Ticker) - It took a while, but the Detroit Red Wings showed that they still have Dallas goaltender Marty Turco's number at Joe Louis Arena.

Pavel Datsyuk scored two goals as the Detroit Red Wings claimed their 17th consecutive playoff berth with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

Datsyuk netted the first two of four unanswered goals over the last 23 minutes of the game by the Red Wings, who tied the NHL record streak by the Montreal Canadiens for the most consecutive seasons (eight) with at least 100 points.

"I think you should give our organization a lot of credit for what they've been able to do, especially under the new salary system where everybody is on an equal playing field," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We've been able to find players that fit into our system like (Andreas) Lilja, Sammy (Mikael Samuelsson), (Dan) Cleary and some of the young guys who have turned into really fine players."

Before Thursday, only the Montreal Canadiens from 1975-82 were able to maintain that level of consistent excellence for 100-point seasons.

"I think a lot of people thought we'd dip a little bit after we couldn't go out and sign all the free agents," Lidstrom said. "You have to find other players or develop your own draft picks. That's been the most important key to our success."

Turco, who is 2-10-5 lifetime against Detroit, never has won in Detroit and fell to 0-7-2 lifetime at Joe Louis Arena. The former University of Michigan netminder blanked the Red Wings, 1-0, on February 17 in Dallas the last time the two teams played.

Defenseman Trevor Daley, Jere Lehtinen and captain Brenden Morrow scored for Dallas, which led 3-1 after Morrow's power-play goal at 13:42 of the second.

"A two-goal lead isn't safe anytime," Morrow said. "I think we sort of sat back and tried to play with the lead. We were on our heels to start the third. Anytime we get some hesitation in our game, it's tough to win, especially against Detroit. They capitalize on your mistakes."

Samuelsson put Detroit in the lead for good with his 11th goal just 61 seconds into the third period.

Just 25 seconds earlier, Datsyuk scored his second goal of the game and 28th of the season. The Red Wings' points leader who Datsyuk also scored his first goal off a turnover in the second period, charging the net and blasting a slap shot from just inside the right circle past Turco, tying the contest at 3-3.

Datsyuk felt the Red Wings changed their mind-set going into the third period.

"We had a bad start in the first two periods, but a good start in the third," he said. "We tried to put (the puck) behind the defensemen and play more in the offensive zone, shoot more and have traffic."

Detroit coach Mike Babcock said it wasn't any great pep talk during the second intermission that lit a fire under the team.

"The first one (goal) gave us a lot of life," Babcock said. "We had played pretty well and hadn't given up a lot but if you work it in deep, create a lot of traffic and get to the net, we'd thought we'd have a good opportunity. We talk about what we have to do every period. This wasn't the coaches. It was the players."

Samuelsson gave the Red Wings the lead after Turco was unable to gain control of a weak wrist shot from Johan Franzen.

The puck ricocheted off Turco's left shoulder and just in front of the crease. In a mad scramble to collect the loose puck, defenseman Stephane Robidas knocked the puck past Turco and into the net. Samuelsson was given credit for his 11th goal of the season.

Valtteri Filppula completed the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:55.

Turco, who is 1-4-0 in his last five starts, turned away 26 shots in the setback. Detroit's Chris Osgood finished with 16 saves for his second straight win.