Latest Stories
· McCarty close on two-way contract· Red Wings re-sign Aaron Downey
· New Cup DVD Set taking pre-orders
· Bowman joins Blackhawks as advisor
· Filppula signs 5-year contract
· Holland talks to WDFN
· Red Wings sign Darren Haydar
· McCrimmon gets assistant spot
· Red Wings re-sign Howard, Ericsson
· Special group rate for Panthers tickets!
Johan Franzen racked up three more goals for a hat trick in Saturday's 5-1 Game 2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Joe Louis Arena, a win that gives the Red Wings a 2-0 lead in the series. Franzen staked the Red Wings to a 2-0 lead early in the second period on a pair of power-play goals and added his third in the final period shorthanded. Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit.
Franzen opened the scoring 4:22 into the game with a perfect deflection on Mikael Samuelsson's point shot on a Detroit power play. The Red Wings again controlled the play in the opening period, outshooting the Forsberg-less Avalanche 10-4 over the opening 20 minutes.
The "Mule" scored a vintage goal early in the second period as he bulled his way out in front of the Colorado net and backhanded a shot top shelf on Jose Theodore to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. Colorado seemed to scramble defensively as the Red Wings surged after the second goal -- the end result a Filppula rebound goal that gave Detroit a 3-0 lead.
Zetterberg scored his second goal of the series on a fantastic individual effort midway through the second period. His quick wristshot to the far side top corner on Theodore effectively ended the afternoon for Colorado's beleaguered netminder.
The flu excuse won't work this time around. Theodore stopped 16 of 20 shots before being replaced, again, by Peter Budaj.
Cody McCormick challenged Darren McCarty seconds after Zetterberg's goal. McCarty registered a flurry of punches before he was wrestled to the ice by McCormick.
Detroit outshot Colorado 22-6 in the second period for a 40 minute total of 32-10.
Ian Lapperierre spoiled Chris Osgood's shutout bid 2:38 into the third period with a deflection goal off a pass from goaltender Cody McCormick.
Franzen closed out the scoring when he finished off a shorthanded rush by Zetterberg. With Joe Sakic back on defense during a 2-on-1 rush Zetterberg corkscrewed the veteran into the ice before getting a shot in on Budaj. Budaj made the save but left the rebound for Franzen, who connected on his second rebound attempt by batting the puck out of the air and into the net.
Franzen has scored seven goals in eight playoff games.
Osgood stopped 19 of 20 Colorado shots. Budaj also stopped 19 of 20 in mop-up duty.
Game 3 is Tuesday night in Denver.
|
|
