DENVER—Even at full strength, the Colorado Avalanche would’ve had a difficult time keeping up with the Johan Franzen-fueled Detroit Red Wings.
But without five of their key players, the Avalanche had no shot.
Detroit routed Colorado 8-2 Thursday night behind Franzen’s second hat trick of the series, sending the Red Wings on to the Western Conference finals.
“It’s not often you see a player score like this,” said Henrik Zetterberg, who added two goals and two assists. “It’s great to see him score.”
Move over Gordie Howe, you’ve now got company in the record books. Franzen’s six game-winning goals in March bested the franchise record of five established by Howe in 1952.
Then, in Thursday night’s sweep of the Avalanche, Franzen toppled another of the Hall of Famer’s marks as Franzen scored his ninth goal of the series. Howe had eight goals in a series in 1949.
Franzen turned comedian when asked about the accomplishment.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “I didn’t follow the game back then.”
In the only other playoff game Thursday, the New York Rangers beat Pittsburgh 3-0.
The Red Wings realize they beat up on a bruised and battered Colorado team, but they’ll take it anyway as they wait to face the winner of the San Jose-Dallas series, which the Stars lead 3-1.
“I won’t apologize for beating them like this,” Zetterberg said. “I know they’ll came back at us next year.”
The Avalanche were minus five key players: center Peter Forsberg (groin, ankle), leading scorer Paul Stastny (knee) and forwards Ryan Smyth (foot), Wojtek Wolski (ribs) and Marek Svatos (knee).
“I’ve seen injuries in the playoffs, but I’ve never seen that many injuries,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “I mean, come on. That’s not fair.”
Colorado wouldn’t use injuries as an excuse during the series. Afterward, the team acknowledged the rash of ailments didn’t help.
“We ran into some really strange happenings, health wise,” Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said. “But they played well and they’ll be dangerous.”
Especially with teams having to account for Franzen, who scored as many goals (9) as the Avalanche had all series.
“He’s been great. He’s a big, big man with lots of skill,” Babcock said. “We’re lucky to have him.”
But the “Mule” isn’t the only offensive force the Red Wings have at their disposal. Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk—dubbed the “Euro Twins” by teammates—have formed quite the tandem. Datsyuk had three assists in the game.
“Pavel and Hank, in my opinion, are superstars in the league at the perfect age,” Babcock said. “They’ve got more coming.”
The Avalanche are hoping Forsberg and Sakic have more coming as well.
Sakic, who missed 38 games at age 38 with a hernia this season, wants to wait until the summer to decide if he’ll return for a 20th NHL season.
Forsberg could never get completely healthy since rejoining the Avalanche at the trade deadline. He said after the game that an MRI on Wednesday revealed tears in both groins. He ended up playing nine games in the regular season, and another seven in the playoffs.
The 34-year-old Swede hasn’t ruled out a return to Colorado if his health allows it. Otherwise, he could call it a career.
“If it doesn’t get solved, that would be it, but we’ll see what happens,” Forsberg said.
Franzen, a fellow Swede, also had a hat trick in Game 2. He’s just the sixth player in NHL history to turn in a pair of hat tricks in one series, and the first since Jari Kurri in 1985.
“I got really lucky,” Franzen said with a grin. “I don’t expect to score that much the rest of the playoffs. I only hope I can contribute something offensively.”
Rangers 3, Penguins 0
Jaromir Jagr scored two goals and Henrik Lundquist made 29 saves in his second career playoff shutout as host New York avoided a sweep.
Jagr’s second-period goal broke a scoreless tie. He assisted on Brandon Dubinsky’s power-play goal early in the third period and then added an empty-netter with 13 seconds to go.
The Penguins lost for the first time in eight playoff games this year but still lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal 3-1. The injury-plagued Rangers beat the Penguins at home for the fifth time in six games this season.
