See, Dallas hasn’t been that bad. Detroit simply has been that good.

Pick a stat, any stat, and the Red Wings aren’t just winning, they are dominating the fifth-seeded Stars, making it look more and more like they overachieved by getting this far.

• Detroit scored five goals in Game 3. Dallas has four all series. The overall tally is 11-4.
• The Red Wings have taken 86 shots, the Stars 57.
• Both teams have had 15 power-play chances. Detroit has converted four times, Dallas once.
• The Red Wings also have a short-handed goal. Thus, when the Stars have had a man advantage, Detroit has scored as often as Dallas.
• Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood is riding the wave of being 9-0 this postseason. Dallas goalie Marty Turco has seen his overall career record against the Red Wings sink to 2-13-5.
• Detroit has collected 32 penalty minutes to Dallas’ 56. The Stars also have had two players fined for dirty play, the Red Wings one.
• Even good health is on Detroit’s side. Yes, the Red Wings remain without Johan Franzen, the top goal-scorer this postseason with 12, and will be again for Game 4. But the Stars will again be without top-line forward Jere Lehtinen and veteran forward Stu Barnes. They also haven’t gotten back defenseman Philippe Boucher, as hoped, and they saw Modano and captain Brenden Morrow go straight to the dressing room for treatment in Game 3.

Stars coach Dave Tippett welcomed his club to practice Tuesday with the message of “keep your head up.” He said he was encouraged with how they responded.

He insists his group has played well in spurts, they just haven’t made the most of their chances. There was plenty of evidence in Game 3.

It started with Dallas taking five shots before Detroit got any, only to see the Red Wings score first. The Stars scored next, but then gave up another goal 37 seconds later.

The Stars opened the second period on a power play, but hardly challenged Osgood. They got another power play 18 seconds into the third period, but that’s when they gave up a short-handed goal, falling behind 4-2.

“The best part of our game through the playoffs was how well we’ve played together. We’ve been a strong, strong group,” Tippett said. “This series, we’ve ended up chasing games. We’re behind a lot in games. What happens is players get the mind set that they want to do more. They feel like they want to help out so much that they get individual. And when your strength is as a group and your individuals start trying to do more individually, it takes you out of that team concept.”

In other words, things might be different if the Stars can play with the score in their favor.

They might have only one chance left to find out.

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