Red Wings oust Predators, Stars eliminate Ducks

NEW YORK: The Detroit Red Wings shut out the Nashville Predators 3-0 to win its Western Conference quarterfinal series 4-2 in Nashville on Sunday.

The reigning Stanley Cup champion, the Anaheim Ducks, was also eliminated, falling 4-1 to a four-goal barrage by the Dallas Stars in the third period.

Stephane Robidas scored, then assisted on Stu Barnes' goal 52 seconds later to start the Stars' spree. Dallas won the series 4-2.

The Calgary Flames also won on Sunday, shutting out the San Jose Sharks 2-0 behind Miikka Kiprusoff's 21 saves to even their series at 3-3.

In Nashville, veteran Red Wings netminder Chris Osgood blanked the Predators, making 20 saves. It was the 11th career playoff shutout and 58th overall for the 35-year-old Canadian.

"He looks really relaxed in net, playing with confidence," Nicklas Lidstrom, who scored the Red Wings' first goal, told reporters.

"They were storming us real hard the first 10 minutes and had great chances," Lidstrom added. "Ozzie came up big. He was in position for the rebounds, and he was relaxed."

Osgood replaced Dominik Hasek in Game 4 and allowed only one goal the remainder of the series.

"Ozzie's obviously got the net right now, and it's his job to make sure Dom doesn't get back in it," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told reporters.

Lidstrom's momentum-building short-handed goal came on a shot he fired from the neutral zone 13:44 into the second period.

"It bounced high glove. He (Predators netminder Dan Ellis) went down on the butterfly and (it) bounced high over his glove. The puck landed in front of him and took a fluke bounce," Lidstrom said.

Nashville never recovered from the goal.

"We had a lot of time, we just needed one puck (to go into the net) but we didn't get it," Predators coach Barry Trotz said.

Jiri Hudler scored 3:52 into the third to make it 2-0 and Brian Rafalski added an empty-netter with five seconds remaining in the game.

Agencies

(China Daily 04/22/2008 page24)