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May 16--DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings maintain one bad call won't change their approach to the Western Conference finals.
In other words, Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco should prepare for more traffic in front of the net Saturday, led by the ever-frustrating Tomas Holmstrom.
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| Red Wings coach Mike Babcock disputes a call in Game 4 that took away a Detroit goal. (AP) |
"Our players are planning to head to the front of the crease in Game 5," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We're going to continue to do the things we've done all year. Homer will go to his spot. Dan Cleary will go hard to the net."
The Red Wings thought they had scored first in Game 4. An apparent power-play goal by Pavel Datsyuk was negated by a goaltender interference call against Holmstrom in an eventual 3-1 Stars win.
Replays showed that Holmstrom did not meet the usual standard for goalie interference. The official interpretation was that his rear end broke the plane of the crease.
Holland expected to talk before Game 5 with series supervisor Mike Murphy, the NHL's senior vice president of hockey operations. At the same time, Holland said he had no interest in revisiting the call.
Coach Mike Babcock took the same approach.
"We'll stay at the net," Babcock told reporters in Detroit. "It was a good goal, but that's the way it goes sometimes in the playoffs. That's yesterday's news. Let's just keep doing it."
If the Red Wings continue to be aggressive, on-ice officials would be forced to weigh borderline calls that could negate goals and alter the series.
Red Wings players were downplaying Turco's 11-game winless streak at Joe Louis Arena and, instead, taking comfort in their home record.
The Red Wings haven't lost in Detroit since falling to St. Louis, 4-3, in overtime on March 28 -- a span of 10 games, including seven in the playoffs.
"I think there's a level of comfort playing at home and playing in front of your home crowd," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "You seem to be a little more energized when you play in front of your own fans."
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