Datsyuk, Red Wings First to Clinch Berth

[March 14, 2008]  DETROIT (AP) -- Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and an assist, and the Detroit Red Wings became the first team to secure a playoff spot with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

It was the fifth straight win for NHL-leading Detroit, which reached 100 points for an league-record tying eighth-straight season. Montreal had 100-point seasons from 1975-82.

Johan Franzen had a goal and an assist each for the Red Wings and Mikael Samuelsson and Valtteri Filppula also scored. Nicklas Lidstrom had two assists and Chris Osgood made 16 saves.

Trevor Daley, Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow scored Dallas' goals and Joel Lundqvist had two assists. Marty Turco stopped 26 shots.

Datsyuk tied it at 3 just 36 seconds into the third period when he beat Turco with a slap shot from the inside edge of the right circle.

Samuelsson was credited with the winning goal just 25 seconds later when defenseman Stephane Robidas accidentally knocked in the rebound of Samuelsson's shot.

Filppula scored into an empty net with 4 seconds left.

Dallas led 3-2 after two periods after scoring twice in the second.

Lehtinen broke a 1-1 tie 44 seconds into the middle period when he fought off Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda in front of the net to tip in a pass from Lundqvist for Lehtinen's 13th goal. Morrow made it 3-1 when he put in a rebound from the side of the net for a power-play goal with 6:18 left in the period. It was his 27th goal.

Datsyuk brought the Red Wings back to within one with his 27th, knocking in his own rebound with 3:43 left in the second period.

Daley opened the scoring just 1:08 into the game when he beat Osgood with a screened wrist shot from the point.

Franzen tied it with a power-play goal at 7:46 of the first period, tipping Lidstrom's shot from the point out of the air. It was Franzen's 18th goal and sixth in five games.

Notes: Detroit G Dominik Hasek missed the game because of a sore back. ... Dallas D Matt Niskanen returned after missing a game with a sore foot. ... Red Wings C Kris Draper didn't play because of a groin injury. ... Detroit RW Tomas Holmstrom missed the game because of an abdominal injury. ... Red Wings C Darren Helm made his NHL debut. ... Datsyuk stretched his point streak to eight games (7-4-11).

[Associated Press]

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