Red Wings beat Dallas to reach brink of NHL finals

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

DALLAS (AFP) — Russian Pavel Datsyuk scored the first hat trick of his National Hockey League career to lead the Detroit past Dallas 5-2, moving the Red Wings to the brink of the Stanley Cup finals.

Datsyuk had three goals in a game for the first time in 445 regular-season games and 72 playoff appearances while Sweden's Henrik Zetterberg added a goal and two assists to give the Wings a 3-0 edge in the best-of-seven semi-final.

Jiri Hudler also scored and defenseman Brian Rafalski notched two assists against Dallas goaltender Marty Turco for the top-seeded Red Wings, who need only one more victory to reach the Stanley Cup finals.

"Tried to skate more, go deep in the zone, make the defensemen turn," said Datsyuk. "Tried to go to the net and shoot everything on...