Turco, Stars Get Rare Win Over Red Wings

[February 18, 2008]  DALLAS (AP) -- Marty Turco made 28 saves for his 32nd career shutout and second victory in 16 tries against Detroit, and Niklas Hagman scored as the Dallas Stars handed the Red Wings their season-high sixth straight loss, 1-0 on Sunday.

Turco improved to 2-9-5 against the Red Wings, helping the Stars improve to 9-1 in their last 10 games overall.

Turco preserved the shutout with 48.8 seconds left, falling on his back to make a sliding stop on Detroit's Brett Lebda. Turco also denied Johan Franzen with 34.8 seconds remaining.

Hagman scored the game's only goal at 3:13 of the third period, notching his career-best 21st of the season from a sharp angle to the left of Detroit's third-string goaltender Jimmy Howard.

Howard failed to the control the rebound of Jere Lehtinen's shot, and Hagman lifted the puck over the sprawling Howard, making his first start of the season.

Howard stopped 30 shots. He was playing in his seventh career game and getting his first fourth career start in place of Detroit No. 1 goalie Chris Osgood.

Coach Mike Babcock gave Howard the assignment after Osgood lost his four previous starts and had been replaced by Howard in the previous two games. Backup Dominik Hasek is out with a hip injury.

Babcock also switched up his lines in an attempt to spark his struggling team, but the Red Wings fell to 0-5-1 in their last six games.

Dallas began the day 3-10-1 against Detroit over the past four seasons and had lost the first two meetings of this season by a combined score of 7-1.

Detroit got off to a fast start, collecting game's first five shots in the opening five minutes. The Red Wings missed a choice scoring opportunity during that early span when Mikael Samuelsson hit the left goal post on a breakaway.

Pavel Datsyuk had another excellent scoring chance for Detroit in the first minute of the second period, flying in alone on Turco, who made a strong stick save. Turco also came up with a sharp glove save on Franzen from close range midway through the second period to keep the game scoreless.

Notes: The Stars remain without D Sergei Zubov (groin, foot) and D Philippe Boucher (shoulder). Both are practicing with the team but there is no timetable for their return. ...D Brian Rafalski (groin), RW Daniel Cleary (jaw) and D Niklas Kronwall (shoulder) are out for the Red Wings. Rafalski hopes to play in Monday night's game at Colorado.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.