Posted on 5/16/2008 12:31:09 PM

NHL Online Hockey Betting - Stars Look For Miracle Comeback

By BetUS Staff

If you did some futures NHL online betting on the Dallas Stars right before Game 4 of the Western Conference final on Wednesday night, you got some huge longshot sports betting odds on them winning the Stanley Cup. And then you got a little glimmer of hope later that night.

Things looked bleak for Dallas heading into play on Wednesday, as they had lost the first three games of this series to the Detroit Red Wings by scores of 4-1, 2-1, and 5-2. That 5-2 Detroit victory came in Dallas on Monday night, so the Red Wings were simply looking to pick up a second consecutive online betting road win and punch their ticket to the Cup final.

However, after a scoreless first period on Wednesday, the Stars finally took a lead on the Red Wings with a goal from Loui Eriksson late in the second frame. That advantage didn’t last long though, as Henrik Zetterberg picked up his 10th goal of the postseason under a minute into the third period to tie the game and give Detroit some momentum.

That didn’t last long either – Mike Modano scored on the power play four minutes later to give Dallas a 2-1 lead, and Brenden Morrow then iced the contest with his ninth goal of the playoffs. Late penalties by Morrow and Modano gave the Red Wings some life, but they couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing power plays and prevent Game 5 of this set.

Sergei Zubov picked up two assists for Dallas in the win, while Pavel Datsyuk had the lone assist on Zetterberg’s marker. Marty Turco turned in a huge performance between the pipes for the Stars – he stopped 33 of 34 Detroit shots en route to being named the game’s First Star. Chris Osgood only managed to block 19 of 22 Dallas shots in the loss.

So Dallas will try to keep their slim Cup chances alive with a win in Detroit in Game 5 on Saturday. Should the Stars come up with a victory in that contest as well Game 6 would be played back in Dallas on Monday, while Game 7 would be in Detroit on Wednesday.

Both the Stars and the Red Wings will be hoping to get reinforcements for Saturday’s contest. Detroit forward Johan Franzen missed Wednesday’s game with a head injury, while Dallas played without forwards Jere Lehtinen (leg) and Stu Barnes (head) and defenseman Mark Fistric (illness). Those four players are all questionable for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers played Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final on Thursday night. The Flyers were down 3-0 in that series heading into action for Game 4, but if they managed to avoid elimination Game 5 would be played in Pittsburgh on Sunday (subsequent games would then be on Tuesday and Thursday).

Check the BetUS NHL odds section for all the latest lines and totals for the postseason.

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