Datsyuk's hat trick does in Dallas

May 13, 2008

Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings got the best retaliation against Mike Ribeiro and the host Dallas Stars - a record-setting victory.

Datsyuk scored twice in the first period then again with 2:41 left, and the Red Wings beat the Stars, 5-2, last night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

This was Detroit's ninth straight win, its most ever in a single postseason and the longest in the NHL since Montreal won 11 in a row in 1993. More importantly, the Red Wings will go into Game 4 tomorrow night with the chance to skate into the Stanley Cup Finals for the fourth time in 11 seasons.

"There's a lot of experience in here," center Kris Draper said. "We're not getting caught up in the little things. We have a chance to eliminate a great hockey team. We have to get focused and be ready to play a great game Wednesday night."

Datsyuk's first career hat trick overshadowed important goals by his teammates. Jiri Hudler converted a breakaway in the second period and Henrik Zetterberg scored a short-handed goal early in the third period for a daunting two-goal lead.

As promised, Detroit players came out more focused on the scoreboard than settling a score with Ribeiro for his two-handed baseball swing of his stick into the chest of Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood as Game 2 ended.

Off the ice

• Sharks // San Jose fired coach Ron Wilson after the team's latest disappointing early ouster from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Wilson, hired by the club in December 2002, is the Sharks' leader in wins and winning percentage, but San Jose advanced past the second round of the postseason only once with him behind the bench. Wilson, the sixth coach in team history, went 206-134-45 in 385 games.

• Flyers // Defenseman Braydon Coburn is doubtful for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals after taking a puck in the face Sunday night. If Coburn can't go in Game 3, Ryan Parent is expected to take his place.

• Predators // Nashville signed forward Martin Erat to a seven-year, $31.5 million contract.

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Datsyuk's hat trick does in Dallas

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Datsyuk's hat trick does in Dallas

Related topic galleries: Mike Ribeiro, Contracts, Detroit Red Wings, Kris Draper, Dallas Stars, Ron Wilson, National Hockey League

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