Franzen's hat trick has Wings flying high
The Mule-led Detroit Red Wings are kicking the Colorado Avalanche when they're down.
Johan Franzen scored 3 goals to lift host Detroit to a 5-1 victory Saturday over the banged-up Avs, giving the NHL's top-seeded team a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound center -- known as "Mule" -- redirected a shot in front of the net early in the game, scored on a wraparound in the second period, and whacked a rebound out of the air in the third.
It was his first career hat trick in the NHL, and first since the Swede was a teenager.
Darren McCarty was the last Red Wing to score 3 goals in the playoffs, pulling off the feat against the Avs in the 2002 conference final en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
"Sorry about that, Mac," Franzen joked. "What can I say? I got lucky."
The humble player had 2 goals and an assist in Detroit's series-opening win.
"He's got a hot stick right now," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said. "Everything he touches seems to be going in."
Game 3 is Tuesday night in Colorado.
Chris Osgood made 19 saves for the Red Wings.
Colorado's Jose Theodore gave up 4 goals on 20 shots and was pulled for a second straight game. Peter Budaj stopped all 12 shots he faced in the second period and finished with 19 saves.
The sixth-seeded Avs are counting on two off days and home ice helping them when the series resumes.
"We'll get to regroup after a tough couple games here," Quenneville said. "Hopefully going home and having a couple days will give us some momentum."
The Avs were without center Peter Forsberg (groin), defenseman Scott Hannan (lower-body injury) and winger Wojtek Wolski (upper-body injury) in Game 2.
Flyers 4, Canadiens 2: R.J. Umberger scored twice, and Martin Biron made 34 saves to help visiting Philadelphia even the second-round series at one game apiece.
Jeff Carter and Daniel Briere also scored to help the Flyers rebound after they blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads Thursday night a 4-3 overtime loss.
Saku Koivu and Andrei Markov scored for Montreal, and Carey Price made 19 saves.
Game 3 is Monday night in Philadelphia.