DETROIT, Michigan -- Missing the NHL's leading playoff scorer, Johan Franzen, the Detroit Red Wings still claimed victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Two of their Western Conference Finals matchup Saturday night, holding on for a 2-1 win.
Franzen was a late scratch from the game. The team revealed he had been experiencing concussion-like symptoms since early in the second round. He will be re-evaluated on Monday and miss Game Three in Dallas.
With Franzen shelved, the Red Wings got scoring from an unexpected source, as fourth-line rookie Darren Helm got the game's first goal.
Just 5:56 into the game, Jiri Hudler gained the Dallas zone and sent a pass off to the left wing for a trailing Helm. Helm rifled a shot over the glove of Stars goalie Marty Turco for his first career playoff goal.
Stephane Robidas tied things up on a Dallas power play at 10:41, blasting a one-timer off a cross-ice feed from Mike Ribeiro into the open side of Chris Osgood's net.
The Red Wings thought they had regained the lead minutes later but an apparent goal by Pavel Datsyuk was called back on a hand-pass.
With 4:47 left in the period they did take the lead back on a power play goal by Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg got the puck from Datsyuk up high and powered a shot past Turco.
The remainder of the game would be played without scoring but was not uneventful.
The teams traded power plays throughout the second period, with each team having short five-on-threes. Defense held strong throughout the rest of the game as the Red Wings preserved their lead and the Stars kept Detroit from pulling further ahead.
In the game's closing seconds, Osgood stuck out his stick as Ribeiro skated around the net, catching the forward up high. After the clock ran out, Ribeiro swung his stick from the back of the net and caught Osgood high on his chest, earning him a match penalty.
Osgood finished the night with 17 saves on 18 shots. Turco stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced.
Each team went one-for-four on the power play.
The series shifts to Dallas on Monday with the Red Wings carrying a two games to none lead.
Notes: The Stars were without forward Stu Barnes and defenseman Philippe Boucher to start the game and lost forward Jere Lehtinen to a leg injury in the first period.
Stu Barnes could return to the lineup for the Stars but it looks like that would be the only roster change for either team for Game Two.
The way the Stars have been complaining to the media about goalie interference on Detroit's third goal in Game One, you can probably expect that to be watched a bit more closely this time around. The Stars feel they're "owed" one.
Of course, I hope the Wings did just as much lobbying, 'cause as loud as the Stars have been they still got away with a bit. Marty Turco's blatant elbow to the head of Darren Helm way outside the crease early in the third period comes to mind. Of course, the Versus guys barely mentioned it (the crowd was going nuts).
Turco still hasn't proven anyone who says he can't win in Detroit wrong. I won't say he can't, just that he hasn't.
Wings win this one, it could be a quick series.
Thread note: My laptop is in the shop so I'll be checking in at intermissions. Going old-school and taking game notes with pencil and paper.
Agreed, Turco doesn't really seem interested in proving he can win at the Joe. As far as the complaining goes, you can expect at least one or two goal tender interference call on Homer.
According to Hockey this morning on XM the league wants to prove that the refs can get it right. Although it always seems to come at the Wings expense, I have a feeling that I am going be p*ssed at the refs.
I also concur that this could be a short series. All I want to know is how we are going to counter the Pens! That is a fast moving team!
Side Note: Happy late 43rd birthday to Stevie Y!
Expected Stars lineup change: Matt Niskanen in on the blueline for Mark Fistric. Stu Barnes won't be ready to go.
Great early hit by Drake!
Helm! Just after surviving the 4 on 1 as well!
I missed the pregame out with in-laws. Why is Franzen out?
Beautiful shot by Helmer.
No idea. Missed it as well.
Concussion like symptoms out for game 3 as well
bummer
NO! That killed any momentum.
don't see lidstrom make to many mistakes like that. need the next one
Disallowed. sh*t. Thought that was it then.
Wheres the calls missed the punch to the back of the head on datsyuk, the slash by turco and the cross check
finally lets get one here
Who's surprised that the refs can see phantom hand-passes to negate Detroit goals but not any of the cross-checking Dallas does?
thats big
They couldn't stop that one!
Someone punch ott where was osgoods help
Ott turns around and gives Osgood a shot. No call. Yet it's Dallas bitching about goalie interference.
Do the Versus guys know Detroit is playing? Every stoppage it's about what Dallas is doing.
And, yeah, huge goal by Zetterberg. Gotta keep Turco under pressure, he'll keep cracking.
Thinking about it more, that Datsyuk goal that was blown dead would have been on highlights everywhere. Way to go ref. Good thing the NHL doesn't need highlights.
I will retract my blame when someone shows me a clear view that it was a hand-pass.
It did hit Zetterberg in the hand the top of the glove and then datsyuk touched it, if that is considered a hand pass it was the right call...weak but right
Big penalty kill.
Ozzie's coming up huge.
Nice cheap shot Turco.
dallas is playing dirty big time need to make them pay for it
How the f*ck did he get away with that? f*cking wanker. PP anyway though.
why is it 4 on 4
why is it 4 on 4
They called diving.
a$$hole refs.
these versus guys are all about dallas....they should just go down there with there jersey's and blow them during break
i wish someone youd just kick ott's A$$
these versus guys are all about dallas....they should just go down there with there jersey's and blow them during break
I'm not allowed to say that out loud down here, but I'm sure thinking it.
After two... Turco's getting away with all sorts of stuff. Makes me wish more and more that Helm would have gone after him after the elbow in Game One. Wings didn't have anything to lose then.
Diving call was bullsh*t. I don't know how someone can be known to wear extra padding because of all the abuse he takes but still have a repuation as a diver. Seems like if he was diving, he wouldn't need the padding.
And I still think that another stick touched the puck before Datsyuk's on the non-goal. Haven't gone back to do the replays though.
Speaking of replays, seems like Versus does a lot fewer of them than FSN does. Guess that's what happens when you need to fit in the "Reasons Dallas is so f*cking great, sponsored by Trojan" graphic in each stoppage.
Breathtaking save by Ozzie.
Huge power play coming up here.
Holding on here. Come on!
did you see the dallas player swing his stick at the glass after the penalty call
dirty dirty dirty
f*cking Ribeiro. f*cking shower of sh*te the Stars are. That's put a bitter taste on the win.
F%CK MIKE RIBEIRO
DOUCHE BAG
IF THERE IS NO SUSPENSION I'M GONNA GO APESH%T
WAY AFTER THE GAME--HE BROKE HIS F$CKING STICK OVER OZZIE'S NECK.
KICK HIM OUT FOR THE PLAYOFFS. MCCARTY IS GOING TO F$UCK UP SOMEONE'S DAY MONDAY.
I want Ribeiro gone. Done. Not gonna happen though.
Versus calls it a lovetap. I can't believe they got those words out with their lips so firmly attached to Dallas' collective balls.
I want Ribeiro gone. Done. Not gonna happen though.
He'll be gone...it's a question of who does it...the league or McCarty.
He'll probably get a f*cking congratulatory phone call off Bettman. One twat to another.
This is going to be spun as Osgood started it and got what he deserved. Everyone's okay, no harm, no foul.
Whatever. Wings won. Two down. Suck it, Dallas.
Well, since I hate Versus, I watched it on the CBC, they still kind of favoured Dallas, but it was more neutral then Versus.
I liked the fact that Darren Helm scored, which was nice. I hope Franzen gets better soon with the mysterious headaches, and I hope Dallas stops being so dirty. They remind me of Anaheim last year, well....Anaheim in general.
That one goal shouldn't have been called back, and as someone said earlier, it was weak. =/ But it's nice to see the Wings can still win without Mule. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he'll be back soon, though.
&&;; I don't remember who it was after the game, but whoever hit Osgood should be kicked out of the playoffs, or at least the next game.
How long will Franzen be out for, they said he's being reevaluated in Michigan on Monday so does that count him out for game 3 and 4? I'm pretty sure these symptons are related to that huge hit layed on him about a year or two ago where he was down for the count.
Helm is playing great. Ozzy did start the whole end of game issues, but still a two hander to the chest? I say no suspensions but It'd be nice if ribiero did get something just for the our sake. Great game, wings passing is phenomenal, relieving immediate pressure.
Three things were proven in this game:
1. Detroit won wihtout Franzilla (And looked good doing it)
2. Versus has their collective lips attached to Dallas' Ass
3. The only thing proven by Dallas is the fact that they are sore losers and a bunch of cry babies.
10 down, six to go!
Fines to Osgood, Ribeiro and Ott. No suspensions. Figured.
Never saw the poke to the face by Osgood.. Was it a good one?
Never saw the poke to the face by Osgood.. Was it a good one?
Depends on who you ask. Ribeiro says Osgood butt-ended him in the face. Osgood says he stuck his stick out to try to make Ribeiro go around.
Osgood definitely caught him with the butt-end of the stick in the face but it was like the side of the butt-end. More like a slash.
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