Red Wings Look to Knock Out Stars Today

DALLAS - The Detroit Red Wings aren't really going to blow this - are they? Just a few days ago, the Red Wings were still in a span of being undefeated for almost a month, owning the NHL's longest postseason winning streak in 15 years and doing it with flair. Three games into the Western Conference finals, they hadn't even trailed the Dallas Stars for a single second.

All they had to do was win once more to seal a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.

Then the Stars won Game 4. And Game 5.

Now Game 6 is tonight and the Stars are feeling good, realizing they are halfway to a historic comeback.

"I think that's crept into all of us a little bit," Dallas captain Brenden Morrow said Sunday. "It's building. We're getting a little more of that feeling. None of us will be content just to make a series out of it. We want to win this thing."

As for the Red Wings, they've lost four straight games only once all season. It seems hard to imagine this talented, experienced group would pick Games 4-7 of this series to do it again. Still, they're heading in that direction.

"We still have to stay loose as a group," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "I think the experience really helps when you're in a situation like this."

The Red Wings also lost consecutive games in the opening round. They bounced back by winning their next nine. Along the way, they closed out the first two rounds on the road, something they can do again tonight.

Plus, Detroit still has a wee bit of wiggle room. Lose another and the Red Wings would still have Game 7 at their place, not that anyone in red would admit thinking like that.

"We're still up 3-2," center Kris Draper said. "That's something that we've got to keep hammering home. We're in a dogfight with a great hockey club. You don't expect that to be easy."