Red Wings on the defensive after two straight wins by Stars

DALLAS - Just a few days ago, the Detroit Red Wings were in a span of being undefeated for almost a month, owning the NHL's longest postseason winning streak in 15 years (nine games) and doing it with flair. Three games into the Western Conference final, they hadn't trailed the Dallas Stars for a single second. All they had to do was win one more game to seal a spot in the Stanley Cup final.

Then the Stars won Game 4. And Game 5 in Detroit on Saturday. And now Game 6 will be played here tonight, and the Stars are feeling good, realizing they are halfway to a historic comeback.

"I think that's crept into all of us a little bit," said Dallas captain Brenden Morrow. "It's building. We're getting a little more of that feeling. None of us will be content just to make a series out of it. We want to win this thing."

As for the Red Wings, they lost four straight games only once during the regular season, and it seems hard to imagine this talented, experienced group would pick Games 4-7 of this series to have it happen again.

"We still have to stay loose as a group," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "I think the experience really helps when you're in a situation like this."

The Red Wings lost two consecutive games to Nashville in the opening playoff round, but they bounced back with their nine-game streak. They have also closed out the first two rounds on the road, something they can do again tonight.

"We're still up 3-2," center Kris Draper said. "That's something that we've got to keep hammering home. We're in a dogfight with a great hockey club. You don't expect that to be easy."

"We've felt if we could get Game 6 at home, it would be a whole different animal," Dallas forward Mike Modano said. "Who knows what can happen Wednesday in Detroit?"

"The odds are against you," Stars goalie Marty Turco said. "It's not easy. Things haven't changed from [Game 5]. We're playing to win. It's Game 6, the biggest game of our careers. We want to keep playing. Who cares how it looks?" *