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Franzen nets two as Red Wings win third straight

Mar 9, 2008 - 11:14 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Johan Franzen seemed to enjoy his new spot on the top power-play unit.

Franzen scored a pair of man-advantage goals and Nicklas Lidstrom added two assists after missing the previous six contests as the Detroit Red Wings held on for a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

Franzen moved up to the top power-play unit when Tomas Holmstrom was scratched because of a groin injury. Holmstrom has made a career of planting himself in the deep slot to screen the goalie and deflect shots from the point.

"I guess with Homer and (Dan) Cleary out, I'm the only guy left," Franzen said. "I just have to do my best until (Holmstrom) comes back. I've been watching him for three years and he's the best I've ever seen at that."

Niklas Kronwall also had two assists and Dominik Hasek made 19 saves for the Red Wings, who have won three in a row after winning just once in their previous 11 games.

Lidstrom, who has been out since February 18 with a sprained MCL, made an instant contribution. The All-Star defenseman started the play that led to Franzen's first tally.

"I felt good," Lidstrom said. "It helped early on to be on the power play a lot and get a lot of ice time. You're able to hold on to the puck a little more and make plays. That helped me get used to the game speed again."

Lidstrom controlled the puck at the point and delivered a cross-ice pass through a hole in the Predators' defense to All-Star Henrik Zetterberg, who made a centering pass to Franzen.

Franzen converted on the power play to give Detroit a 1-0 edge with 8:43 left in the first period.

"On the 5-on-3, I just had to be ready to get (the puck) from Zetterberg or Pavel (Datsyuk)," Franzen said.

Stationing himself in front of the net on another man advantage, Franzen struck again with 3:33 remaining in the second period to extend the Red Wings' advantage to 4-0.

After receiving a pass from Datsyuk, Lidstrom unleashed a shot from the high slot that Franzen deflected past goaltender Chris Mason.

"It was a great shot," Franzen said. "That's why (Lidstrom) is so dangerous."

Jiri Hudler snapped a 22-game goalless drought with his 12th tally of the season with 4:17 left in the first, and blue-liner Brad Stuart notch his first goal as a Red Wing with 4:39 remaining in the middle session.

Nashville coach Barry Trotz said that he had warned the Predators about taking penalties during a meeting Saturday and again before Sunday's game.

"You don't want to come in here and spend the whole first period in the penalty box," Trotz said. "Some were warranted and some weren't. We addressed it yesterday and we addressed it today. Obviously, we didn't learn from the message."

Defenseman Shea Weber and Martin Erat each scored power-play goals in the third period for the Predators, who managed just 10 shots in the first two periods.

"Before the third period, we said, 'Let's stay out of the box and see how we come out 5-on-5,'" Trotz said. "We were better and actually drew some penalties."

With an empty net on the other end of the rink, Jordin Tootoo stuffed in another goal with just 61 ticks remaining in the contest to cut the deficit to 4-3.

"We knew that their power play is a killer," Weber said. "They can pretty much score at will. That's our fault (for taking penalties). That was a good character builder for us at the end."

Mason turned aside 29 shots for Nashville.