Stars Hand Red Wings First Shootout Loss

The Dallas Stars scored on three of their four shootout shots to defeat the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, on Saturday. The shootout was only Detroit’s second of the season and their first such loss.

The game appeared to be over after Detroit’s third shooter, Henrik Zetterberg, was unable to get a shot off and the Stars already leading by a goal. After review it was determined that Dallas goalie Marty Turco threw his stick on the play, an infraction resulting in an automatic goal.

Detroit netminder Manny Legace stopped Antii Mietinen to force extra shooters, but when Turco stopped Robert Lang and Mike Modano beat Legace with a quick, high shot, the game was over.

The Red Wings had previously gotten a goal by their second shooter, Jason Williams. Pavel Datsyuk was stopped on their first shot. Sergei Zubov and Jussi Jokinen had scored on Dallas’ first two shots.

The only goals of the game during regulation came in the third period.

The Red Wings opened the scoring 2:53 into the period. With Detroit on a power play, Jason Woolley fired a shot from the high slot that Turco got his pad on. In front of the goal, Tomas Holmstrom picked up the rebound and backhanded it into the net. The goal was Detroit’s eighth-straight on the power play.

Dallas tied the game with 5:12 remaining. Jere Lehtinen one-timed a shot from the slot past Legace on a pass from Jokinen.

The Stars had a power play in the final minutes of regulation and early in overtime but could not convert. Similarly, the Wings could not score on an opportunity with the extra attacker in the overtime period.

Detroit had appeared to score early in the game when Henrik Zetterber knifed the puck out of the air and in behind Turco but it was knocked in with a high stick.

Legace finished the game with 19 saves on 20 shots and one-for-four in the shootout. Turco stopped 27 of 28 shots against as well as two of Detroit’s four shootout attempts.

The Red Wings return to action on Monday when they visit the Minnesota Wild.