Franzen officially ruled out of game 4

[Yokijirou 0]

So many tests wouldn't be needed if his headaches subsided. Could just be these stupid sinus infections going around.

Game tomorrow YAY

[96warrior 11]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...anzen_back.html

Red Wings expect Franzen back in playoffs

by Ansar Khan

Wednesday May 14, 2008, 4:50 AM

DALLAS — The Detroit Red Wings, in a testament to their depth, have done fine the last two games without the NHL's leading playoff goal-scorer.

But they are eventually going to need Johan Franzen, and general manager Ken Holland is optimistic that the power forward will return at some point in the playoffs.

Holland said tests on Monday revealed nothing significant, certainly nothing bad. Franzen has headaches and is suffering from post-concussion syndrome, but the club has not labeled it a concussion, for the record. He is out for tonight's Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against Dallas and is listed as day-to-day. Holland didn't rule out the possibility of Franzen returning later in the series, if it is extended to Game 5 or beyond.

"We think there's a chance he'll be ready to play some point in time (in this year's playoffs)," Holland said. "He's not healthy enough right now to work out. When the headaches go away they'll look at him again. Right now we're kind of in a holding pattern."

The problem started sometime during the last round against Colorado -- nobody is sure exactly how or when. Franzen was experiencing these symptoms in Game 4 -- he thought it was because of the high altitude in Denver -- but it didn't prevent him from scoring three goals on that night or from scoring again in Game 1 vs. Dallas.

"He had headaches every day for 7 to 10 days and you start to say something's not normal," Holland said. "Once the headaches go away, can he immediately come back? Does he have to wait a period of time? Let's let the headaches stop, then the doctors can start to make a determination if he's ready to come back."

Franzen still leads the NHL with 12 playoff goals. The Red Wings have compensated, in part, because they have a league-high seven players with 10 or more points.

"It shows we have a lot of depth," Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg said. "We've got four lines that really can play in all situations. And the longer the game goes, the more advantage it is for us."