(Sports Network) - Johan Franzen recorded a hat trick and Chris Osgood made 19 saves as the Detroit Red Wings took game Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal against Colorado, 5-1, at Joe Louis Arena. Franzen continues to get it done in the playoffs and now has five goals and one assist in the first two games of this best-of-seven series, both Detroit victories.

"It feels like when I get out there, I want to score," said Franzen. "I try to get in front of the net and get rebounds and just keep playing the same way I've been playing. Hard work comes first for sure. You start with that and the opportunities come."

Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and an assist, and Valtteri Filppula also tallied for the Red Wings. Niklas Kronvall added a pair of helpers.

Ian Laperriere had the lone tally for the injury-riddled Avs, who remained without the services of center Peter Forsberg, who was scratched from Game 1 because of a sore groin. Forward Wojtek Wolski will likely miss the rest of the series with an upper-body injury, while the club also shut down defenseman Scott Hannan, who has a lower-body ailment.

"It's the playoffs," Laperriere said. "If we use (injuries) as an excuse, we have to do something else with our lives. Every team goes through that and we have to too."

Back in the lineup was Avs netminder Jose Theodore, who was pulled from Game 1 and sent back to the team hotel because he was sick. Theodore, who had intravenous therapy prior to that game, was no longer feeling under-the weather but surrendered four goals on 20 shots in this contest. He was pulled in the middle of the second period, and Peter Budaj stopped 19-of-20 shots the rest of the way.

Game 3 is set for Tuesday in the Mile High City.

Detroit used an early power play to grab a 1-0 lead, as Franzen scored off a redirect at 4:22 of the first period.

The club then showed the same tenacity in the second stanza, piling on three unanswered goals.

Franzen followed through on another man-advantage for a 2-0 lead, as he shrugged off pressure behind the net, carried the puck in front and roofed it under the crossbar at 4:04.

Less than two minutes later, Dallas Drake's shot took a hard carom before Filppula stuffed the rebound past Theodore at 5:42.

Zetterberg then gave the Wings a four-goal cushion when he charged the net during an odd-man rush and wristed the shot past Theodore at 10:11. That ended the netminder's stint, as Budaj took over between the pipes.

LaPerriere's tally put the Avs on the board early in the third, but the club couldn't cut into its deficit any further.

Franzen completed the hat trick with 11:13 left in the contest and the Wings short-handed. He watched Zetterberg carry the puck into the Colorado zone, put the brakes on at the left corner of the crease and, after failing on the first rebound attempt, knocked the disc past Budaj on the second try.

"He (Frazen) was playing real well the last month and a half and he's playing real well now, making the most of his opportunity," said Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock. "He's a big man with a lot of skill and good hands. When you can't get the puck off the guy and he gets in tight, he's tough for the goalie to handle."

Game Notes

With his hat trick, Franzen has 22 goals in his last 24 games going back to the regular season...Avs defenseman John-Michael Liles drew the ire of the crowd when he took an octopus that had been thrown on the ice during the pre-game skate and attempted to toss it back into the seats...Detroit's Brad Stuart returned to the lineup after missing Game 1 to be with his wife, who gave birth Wednesday...The Red Wings outshot the Avs, 40-20...Detroit was 2-for-7 on the power play, while Colorado ended 0-for-5...Detroit forward Dan Cleary left to receive stitches in the second period, but later returned to the game.





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