Johan Franzen Paces Detroit Red Wings' 3-2 win over Canucks

Franzen scores short-handed goal to give Detroit 3-2 win over Canucks
Canadian Press Nov 15, 2006, 1:05 AM EST

FRANZEN

COULOMBE
VANCOUVER (CP) - Johan Franzen scored a short-handed goal at 6:19 of the third period for a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night that gave the Detroit Red Wings their ninth consecutive victory, tying a franchise record.

Franzen fired a low shot that went through the legs of rookie Canuck defenceman Patrick Coulombe and the five-hole of goaltender Roberto Luongo. Luongo, who had made some great saves to keep Vancouver in the game, hung his head afterwards.

Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg scored for Detroit (12-4-1), who last lost Oct. 21 in Edmonton.

It's the fifth time in Detroit history that the Red Wings have won nine consecutive games. The last streak was from Oct. 13 to Nov. 1 last season.

Henrik Sedin, on a power play, and Kevin Bieksa scored for the Canucks. Trevor Linden also earned his 400th assist and 700th point as a Canuck.

The Canucks (8-10-1) have lost three games in a row.

Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek came into the game having posted back-to-back shutouts. Sedin's second-period goal broke his streak after 181 minutes, 17 seconds.

The Canucks thought they had tied the game 3-3 at 9:20 of the third period when Alex Burrows scored. But referee Bill McCreary called off the goal because he had called Jan Bulis for interference.


Vancouver was lucky to be tied 1-1 heading into the third period after being outshot 24-10 through the first 40 minutes.

The Canucks were badly outplayed the first period, managing just one shot on goal during three power plays. If it wasn't for Luongo, Vancouver never would have been in the game.

Filppula finally got a puck behind Luongo early in the second period. The Canuck goalie first lost his stick, then lost sight of the puck as Filppula flipped a shot that went over his shoulder.

Vancouver showed some life when Detroit was called for too many men on the ice.

Markus Naslund fired a shot that Hasek stopped. Hasek tried to control the rebound but Daniel Sedin managed to poke the puck over to his brother Henrik, who put it between the post and goaltender.

The teams exchanged goals 30 seconds apart early in the third.

Zetterberg scored on a backhand after getting in behind the Canuck defence. Bieksa got the Canucks back in the game by taking a pass from Linden and blowing it past Hasek.

Luongo was called upon to make some big saves. He stopped Franzen on a deflection right at the goal mouth, then managed to track a Chris Chelios shot from just inside the blue-line that changed direction.