Luck helps Stars extend series

DALLAS – Detroit’s goal with a guy barely in the crease, if at all, didn’t count. Dallas’ goal with a guy clearly in the crease did count.

Apparently, that’s what it takes to slow the mighty Red Wings.

Loui Ericksson’s goal about 12 minutes after Detroit’s was waved off, then third-period goals from Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow sent the Stars past the Red Wings 3-1 on Wednesday night, preventing the Western Conference finals from ending in a sweep.

“It was a pretty intense, desperate game from everyone on our side,” said Dallas’ Marty Turco, who made 34 saves and played his best game of the series. “We needed that to be successful. We’ll have to continue like that just to have a chance.”

Game 5 is Saturday in Detroit, a break the Stars are glad to have to rest their bodies and, they hope, for Detroit to dwell on its missed opportunity.

Detroit lost for the first time since April 16, ending a nine-game winning streak that was the franchise’s longest in a single postseason. Goalie Chris Osgood ended a 9-0 run, giving up one goal less than he had in the previous three games combined.

But what will frustrate the Red Wings most was the way this game turned in the second period.

Pavel Datsyuk put the puck past Turco on a power-play shot from the right circle midway 7:34 into the period, but on-ice officials immediately called it off, saying Tomas Holmstrom interfered with Turco from inside the crease.

Had that goal counted, Detroit would’ve been up 1-0. Instead, the game remained tied – until Ericksson scored with 22.7 seconds left in the period, putting Dallas in front for the first time all series.

Ericksson was in the crease, but legally because the puck got there first. He knocked in a loose puck knocked toward the goal by Stephane Robidas.