NHL: Turco smothers Detroit to keep Dallas alive

DETROIT - Marty Turco picked the perfect time for his first NHL victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Turco made 38 saves to lift the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 yesterday, extending the Western Conference finals.

Trevor Daley scored in the first period, and Joel Lundqvist had a go-ahead goal in the second to help the Stars, who now trail by three games to two after losing the best-of-seven series' first three games.

Game 6 is tomorrow night in Dallas. If necessary, the final game will be Wednesday night in Detroit.

"It's probably the best I've felt in this building ever," Turco said.

His timing was perfect.

Turco, who had been 0-9-2 as a pro at the Joe Louis Arena, seemed to build confidence after turning away Dan Cleary's shot about a minute into the game.

Detroit's Jiri Hudler scored late in the first period, but that was the only shot the NHL's top-seeded team got past Turco in its 27 shots through two periods.

Chris Osgood made 19 saves for the Red Wings after helping Detroit win a franchise-record nine straight playoff games before losing, 3-1, Wednesday night in Dallas.

The Western Conference finals are starting to look like the Stars' previous matchup in the playoffs, but they hope to stop the similarities soon.

Dallas won the first three games in the second round against the San Jose Sharks before they rallied with two straight wins. The Stars put San Jose away in the fourth overtime of Game 6.

Detroit had been 7-0 at home in the playoffs, outscoring opponents by 24-10.

The Red Wings were without center Johan Franzen for the fourth straight game because of concussion-like symptoms. Franzen has been cleared for light workouts off the ice.