Marty Turco and Dallas Stars Hockey

from chicagotribune.com

Maybe it was payback, maybe it was just good fortune. The Dallas Stars aren’t going to quibble.

All that matters is Tomas Holmstrom’s rear end — and possibly his reputation — cost the Detroit Red Wings a goal and the Stars took full advantage, avoiding the humiliation of getting swept out of the Western Conference finals.

Minutes after Detroit’s lead was taken away, Dallas took its first lead of the entire series thanks in part to an officiating non-call. Then, Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow added third-period goals, sending the Stars past the Red Wings 3-1 on Wednesday night.

“It was a pretty intense, desperate game from everyone on our side,” said Dallas goalie Marty Turco, who made 34 saves and staved off 6-on-4 and 6-on-3 threats in the final minute. “We needed that to be successful. We’ll have to continue like that just to have a chance.”

Game 5 is Saturday in Detroit, a two-day break the Stars are glad to have to rest their bodies and, they hope, for the Red Wings to dwell on their missed opportunity.

“Doubt starts to creep in a little bit,” Morrow said. “We’ve got a couple of days here to let that sink in.”

Detroit lost for the first time since April 16, ending a nine-game winning streak that was the franchise’s longest in a single postseason.

The Stars came in knowing how hard it is to close a team out because they went from leading the last round 3-0 to needing four overtimes in Game 6 to finally knock out the San Jose Sharks.

The Red Wings have experience in being up 3-0, having swept Colorado with an 8-2 victory in Game 4.

Turco beat Detroit for only third time in 21 career tries.