DETROIT, May 8 (UPI) -- Brian Rafalski scored the first of Detroit's three power-play goals Thursday and the Red Wings downed Dallas 4-1 to open the Western Conference Finals.
Detroit won its seventh consecutive post-season contest behind Chris Osgood, who made 20 saves and outplayed Dallas' Marty Turco.
Turco is winless in his 10 career starts in Detroit. Osgood, meanwhile, is unbeaten in this year's playoffs, having replaced original starter Dominik Hasek four games deep into the first round after Nashville had beaten the Red Wings twice in a row.
Rafalski cash in on a two-man advantage by scoring 4:28 into the game and Johan Franzen tipped in a shot by Niklas Kronwall with 4:26 to play in the first period. It was Franzen's league-leading 12th goal of the playoffs.
Tomas Holmstrom scored another power-play goal at 6:40 of the second to give Detroit a 3-0 lead and the Red Wings made it 4-0 on a wrist shot by Valtteri Filppula with 4:23 to play in the period.
Brenden Morrow prevented a shutout with 67 seconds remaining in the second.
Detroit, owners of the league's best regular-season record, will be at home for Game 2 Saturday.
