Detroit defeats Dallas again

DALLAS -- Pavel Datsyuk scored twice in the first period and again with 2:41 left, and Henrik Zetterberg had two assists and the short-hander, sending Detroit past the Dallas Stars, 5-2, Monday night for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Red Wings won their ninth straight playoff game, the best streak in a single season in their franchise’s proud history. It’s also the longest in the NHL since Montreal won 11 in a row on its way to winning the Stanley Cup in 1993.

More important, this victory sends Detroit into Game 4 on Wednesday night with a chance to skate into the 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.”

The Stars played well early but couldn’t get the puck past Detroit goalie Chris Osgood. Then Datsyuk beat Dallas goalie Marty Turco midway through the opening period -- and again later in the period, only 37 seconds after the Stars had tied the score.

Dallas tied it at 2-2 on a goal that actually was a pass redirected by a defenseman’s skate. The Red Wings shrugged it off, though, going back ahead for good when Jiri Hudler scored.