FRISCO – The Stars say they will try to put the NHL's concentration on the crease out of mind in Game 5 today at Joe Louis Arena, but that probably will be easier said than done.

"I think we just go in and play our same way," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "But it's something you talk about. Every time there's an incident, it gets highlighted. And when it gets highlighted, that brings a lot of attention, whether it be the players, the referees, the media, the commissioner, it gets a lot of attention. And when it becomes a focal point, it's probably watched a lot closer."

A Detroit goal was disallowed in Game 4 when forward Tomas Holmstrom was ruled to have broken an imaginary plane that rises up around the crease with his butt. The controversy sparked conversation for two days, including comments from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on XM radio and senior vice president Mike Murphy on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada radio show.

"We have to live with it and go forward," Bettman said.

Murphy added: "If you live close to the crease – and nobody is better at it than Tomas Holmstrom – there are going to be benefits along the way, and there are going to be repercussions along the way."

The Red Wings say they expect to go right back to the front of the net, especially on power plays.

"To Homer's credit, he keeps going back," Detroit forward Kirk Maltby said. "He's not going to stop doing it. That's the way Homer plays, and the way we want him to play."

Stars captain Brenden Morrow said he also will continue to work in front of the net.

"I'm going to do my best to stay out of the blue," Morrow said. "I don't think I get in there very often. I'm not as good at it as Holmstrom is, but I'll go about my business the same way."

Morrow criticizes ref: Morrow picked an interesting time to criticize referee Bill McCreary, who will serve as one of the referees in Game 5 today.

Speaking on his weekly radio show on KTCK-AM (1310) on Thursday, Morrow said McCreary "made up" a roughing call in Game 1 on rookie defenseman Mark Fistric to "even up the score" from a confrontation Fistric had with McCreary in Game 5 of the Anaheim series:

"That was a very phantom call," Morrow said. "I think there was a little grudge between referee and player where he felt he wanted to even up the score."

This will be the third Stars playoff game in which McCreary has officiated. Morrow declined to expand on the comment, and Tippett, Stars co-general manager Les Jackson and NHL spokesperson Frank Brown also declined to comment.

Fistric has mononucleosis and will not play in Game 5.

Hagman needs to cash in: Stars winger Niklas Hagman had 27 goals during the regular season, but he has scored only two in the playoffs.

Despite playing just 13:23 a game, Hagman is among the team leaders in shots on goal at 29 in 16 games.

"He's had some chances, but the finish is what's missing," Tippett said. "When the puck was going in for him earlier in the year, everybody was talking about how he was amazing. He just has to continue to work at it and finish those chances."