Red Wings take control of series

DETROIT (Reuters) - The Detroit Red Wings beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Saturday to complete a sweep of their opening two home games in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals.

All the scoring came in the first period.

Darren Helm wristed one over the shoulder of Stars goalie Marty Turco to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 5:56.

Stephane Robidas cashed in on a powerplay opportunity about five minutes later to level but Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg one-timed a blistering shot at 15:13 for his eighth goal of the playoffs.

The game was marked by brilliant goaltending on both sides. Detroit's Chris Osgood turned away 17 of 18 shots on goal, including a reflex kick save of a spin-around backhander sent at him in the third period by Mike Modano.

Turco saved 32 of 34 shots but the result was another frustrating setback for the Dallas netminder whose NHL career record against Detroit in Joe Louis Arena sank to 0-9-2.

"They had fewer easy chances in front of the net. We battled harder," Stars coach Dave Tippet told reporters before abruptly leaving his news conference.

Detroit played without playoff scoring leader Johan Franz, who sat out due to concussion-like symptoms. Franzen will be examined on Monday and will not fly to Dallas for Game Three.

"We've got to get him checked out by the experts," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Meantime have to find a way to suck it up and win."

Dallas lost forward Jere Lehtinen with a leg injury in the first period.

The contest turned chippy at the end, with the Stars called for four infractions in the last 18 seconds.

As the game ended, Detroit goalie Osgood clipped Mike Ribeiro with the butt of his stick as he skated by and the centre retaliated by slashing Osgood in the chest.

Detroit coach Babcock said he took nothing for granted after moving within two wins of the Stanley Cup Finals.

"About five minutes after I get home tonight I'll start getting scared about Game Three," said Babcock, whose team lost the Western Finals last year to eventual NHL champion Anaheim.

"I've been coaching a long time and seen it go the wrong way too often. We were here last year and it didn't work out. You spend your whole life in hockey trying to win this. You just want to do everything you can to have the opportunity."

Game Three is in Dallas on Monday.

(Writing by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Ed Osmond)