Johan Franzen registered his second career hat trick and reigning Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom also had a goal as the host Detroit Red Wings defeated the visiting Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Tuesday. Dan Cleary scored, Valtteri Filppula collected two assists and Jimmy Howard made 24 saves to improve to 4-1-1 lifetime against Colorado as Detroit won its second straight after losing six in a row.
The Red Wings improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games against the Avalanche, including 3-0-1 at home. Second overall pick Gabriel Landeskog and Milan Hejduk scored power-play goals for the Avalanche (7-7-1), who are 1-2-1 in their last four road games after starting 5-0-0 away from home.
Lidstrom, 41, picked up a stray puck in the slot and beat Semyon Varlamov high to the blocker side in the first period. He has three goals in his last two games and his six tallies lead NHL defensemen. Franzen’s second – a deflection of Niklas Kronwall’s slap pass from the point – made it 3-0 a...
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