DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings kept rolling without their hottest player.
Darren Helm and Henrik Zetterberg scored first-period goals to help make up for the loss of Johan Franzen and Detroit held on for a 2-1 win last night over the Dallas Stars and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Stephane Robidas tied it 1-1 midway through the first period, but the Stars struggled to get shots to or past Chris Osgood.
Dallas’ Marty Turco made 32 saves, but the former University of Michigan star fell to 0-9-2 in the NHL at Joe Louis Arena. Osgood needed to stop just 17 shots, improving to 8-0 as a starter in the playoffs this season.
Game 3 is tomorrow night in Dallas.
The game at Joe Louis Arena ended in ugly fashion as Osgood seemed to use the handle of his stick to poke Dallas’ Mike Ribiero when he skating past the net. Ribeiro then slashed Osgood across the chest from behind the net.
Following some scuffling, Ribeiro was called for a match penalty.
The Red Wings had a setback before the game, announcing Franzen was scratched from the lineup and would miss the following game because of concussion-like symptoms. He’s had recurring headaches since early in the previous series.
Franzen has scored an NHL-high 27 times since March 2, a 27-game roll that includes a league-high and franchise-record 12 goals in the postseason.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.