Johan Franzen, who's been a major headache for opponents since the beginning of March, has been idled by concussion-like symptoms. The Red Wings overcame the absence of the hottest goal-scorer in the NHL Saturday, defeating Dallas 2-1 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, and must make do without Franzen for at last one more game.
Franzen will not travel with the team to Dallas. He is staying behind to see a specialist in Detroit on Monday, forcing him to miss Game 3 of a series his team leads 2-0.
Franzen complained of headaches Friday morning, after Game 1 against Dallas. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the club believes he was hurt at some point during the second round of the playoffs against Colorado.
"Since the Colorado series he's been having headaches, obviously nothing significant, but he's been having constant headaches," Holland said. "After Game 1 (vs. Dallas), he mentioned to the trainers that the headaches persisted. We believe he should have some tests to see what he's got."
Franzen leads the league with 12 goals in the playoffs -- a club record -- and is tied for second with 15 points, behind Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, who had 17 points through Saturday. Franzen scored at least one goal in five straight postseason games, tying a record previously shared by Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, and has 27 goals in his last 27 games dating to the regular season.
RED WINGS 2, STARS 1: Despite missing leading goal-scorer Johan Franzen because of concussion-like symptoms, the Red Wings grinded out the victory over Dallas. But it was somewhat overshadowed by an ugly incident after the final buzzer.
During a melee behind the Detroit net, Dallas center Mike Ribeiro slashed Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood in the chest. Osgood was momentarily shaken and attended to by trainer Piet Van Zant but was fine after the game.
Ribeiro received a match penalty on the play, which calls for an automatic review by the league. It could lead to a suspension. Stars players accused Osgood of trying to butt-end Ribeiro, a charge the goalie denied.
All the scoring came in the first period. For the Wings, Rookie Darren Helm notched his first NHL goal at 5:56, and Henrik Zetterberg snapped a tie with a power-play goal at 15:13.
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Ho Hum. It looks to be another fairly easy series for the Red Wings. Are the Stars going to put up a challenge? I kind of want to see one, but at the same time wouldn't mind it being fairly easy so they're not overworked going into the Finals. Go Wings!!!
So far Osgood has been winless in the playoffs. So you have to think, if he started the two game in Nashville would the wings be 11-0 right now?? And setting up the chance to go 16-0?? Or did him having to come in to replace Hasek the motavation he needed to step it up???
Anyone who was watching game 2 tonight saw the stick swing by Ribero at the end of the game. That was a very cheap shot even if Osgood hit him with the butt end of his stick but not very hard. If Ribero isn't suspended for that then that is complete bullsh^t. Im thinking a two game suspension should be good because thats how many games are left in this series.
I just want to remind people that a couple of years ago that many were saying we should trade him because he is overrated and he never does anything in the playoffs and that he never will be able to do anything in the playoffs. To you that said that, I say, Thank Goodness Ken Holland is the GM and not you. I would be pretty disappointed if he were doing this for another team. He is a spectacula
Don Cherry called out the Detroit fans for not showing up and I thought he was just being.....well, you know, Don Cherry. But it's flat out embarrassing that there are empty seats during any playoff game, let alone, the Conference Finals.
Same during the Pistons game the other night. Empty seats everywhere. What's up, Detroit? How can this be?
The Wings just went up 3-0 in a dominating fashion again. They just cant be stopped. I looked at the Dallas wall and they are pretty inactive. Very sad. JoJo who said that Osgood was a back-up goalie at best...how does that taste? The Stars were over-matched. Zetterberg totally dominated Turco on that goal...can the wings be stopped? It lo
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This is in response to some of our so called experts statements that "It's not the economy" that is keeping the Red Wings from filling the arena. Don Cherry, Mitch Albom, and Barry Melrose seem to have lost touch with the average person trying to make a living and support their family. Earlier in the year, Melros
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was it six? guess that won't be happening. I'd rather that the Red Wings were doing this with Ryan Smyth and Wolski and now Paul Stastny at 100%, but I'm not complaining, either. Zetterb
I just heard on ESPN Radio that Mike Ribeiro will not be suspended after that cheap shot that he had on Osgood saturday night, just fined. What kind of BS is that I thought he should sit for game 3, am I wrong for thinking that???
My friend and I are heading down for game 4 in Dallas from Tinker Air Force Base, in Oklahoma City. How many fellow wings fans will be there? If anyone wants to have some beers and heckle the fake hockey city that is Dallas, you can find us in section 121 in the lower bowl on the southwest side of the Arena, or you listen to us from afar. Also, just a warning, there may be an
