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DALLAS, May 12, 2008 (AFP) - Russian Pavel Datsyuk scored the first hat trick of his National Hockey League career to lead the Detroit past Dallas 5-2 Monday, 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 Turco. Actually, today I had three good passes, used the chances."
Goaltender Chris Osgood made 16 saves, improving to 9-0 in the playoff for the Red Wings, who have won a franchise-record nine playoff games in a row.
"It was one of those games we found a way to win," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "And our big guys, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, were absolutely phenomenal. I thought our D was very good and Ozzie was as well."
Rookie blue-liner Nicklas Grossman and Brad Richards scored for the Stars, who will try to avoid being swept out of the playoffs in game four of the Western Conference final here Wednesday.
The winner will face either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals.
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