Franzen’s hat trick carries Wings

By Michael Caples –

DETROIT – Johan Franzen said that he apologized to Valtteri Filppula for stealing his goal in the second period of Tuesday night’s game.

This reporter is willing to bet that Filppula isn’t too upset about it.

Franzen’s stick just barely tipped Filppula’s shot, which turned out to be the first of three goals for the Red Wings’ No. 93. His hat trick powered Detroit to a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

“We had really nice plays, first of all,” Franzen said after the game. “…We’ve got some skilled players who have some confidence right now, and that’s a difference from a few games ago, so that really helps.”

After a six-game losing streak, the Wings have put together back-to-back five goal outings. Detroit shut out Anaheim Saturday.

“When you figure that we had six in six, I guess it’s a step in the right direction,” coach Mike Babcock said. “I thought our guys played with quite a bit of tempo, power play was real good, didn’t like the penalty-kill goal we gave up at the end, but you know, all in all, it was a good night for us.”

Franzen’s first two goals, the deflection off Filppula’s shot then a more purposeful redirect from the slot three minutes later, both came on the power play.

“It was great to see the power play respond with two goals, especially when we needed them too,” said captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who scored the Wings’ first goal. “It was only a one-goal game, and we get two on the power play to get us going.”

Dan Cleary added his second of the year at the 14:46 mark of the third, and Franzen finished off the hat trick with an empty-net goal in the closing moments.

Jimmy Howard picked up his sixth win of the season after making 24 saves.

The Avalanche pulled Semyon Varlamov after he allowed three goals on 16 shots. It was the second time in as many games that the Wings chased the starting goaltender. Back-up J.S. Giguere allowed one goal on 13 shots in relief.