Johan Franzen scores three to lift Detroit Red Wings past Colorado Avalanche -NHL Match Update
Detroit has finally begun to win matches after one of the most disappointing losing streaks after a great start to the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season in franchise history. Johan Franzen scored his first hat trick of the season and
helped lift the Red Wings past the Colorado Avalanche, 5-2, at the sold-out Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
The Red Wings won their first five contests straight, including two shutouts in a row, but after that, they had lost the next six back-to-back before countering against the Anaheim Ducks in a surprising, 5-0, shutout and now against Colorado.
"We've been more relaxed since scoring the first two goals against Anaheim", Franzen said about finally getting a win against Anaheim. "It seemed like the whole team got a load off our shoulders and we started to play better. We have the skill, but we had
a lack of confidence".
Nicklas Lidstrom came out strong for Detroit and put them ahead by scoring the opening goal of the first period on a breakaway unassisted.
Johan Franzen dominated the second period by scoring two straight, both on power play advanatages as Colorado first lost, Paul Stastny, to a minor penalty due to cross checking followed by Jay McClement for boarding.
Colorado’s top 2011 NHL Entry Draft pick, Gabriel Landeskog, fired back in the next minute to put the Avalanche on the scoreboard on their first power play opportunity of the second to force a heavy third period for the team.
Daniel Cleary basically secured the match when he scored with less than six minutes remaining in the third while Milan Hejduk potted another Colorado goal on an added man advantage but it was not enough as Franzen potted his eighth and insured the contest.
The Red Wings are eyeing a third straight when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Friday while the Colorado Avalanche must snap their four-game losing streak when they return home to face the New York Islanders on Thursday.
It will be interesting to see how these two teams continue to play as the season progresses.
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