Red Wings ready to make Cup run

Franzen has been key goal scorer

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings lack the household names they had the last time they hoisted the Stanley Cup.

The way they're playing, though, anybody remotely interested in hockey knows -- or will find out soon -- who's on the team.

Johan Franzen already has 11 goals through two rounds, surpassing the postseason total Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull or any player on the 2002 team that looked like a future wing of the Hall of Fame.

In fact, the player known as Mule has more goals than any Red Wing -- even Gordie Howe -- in a series (nine) and in a single postseason.

"I don't expect to score that much the rest of the playoffs," Franzen said after his second hat trick against Colorado helped eliminate the Avalanche in an 8-2 victory Thursday night. "I only hope I can contribute something offensively."

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, with 13 points apiece, have dominated play at both ends of the ice with obvious talent and subtle grit.

"Pavel [29] and Hank [27] are superstars in the league at the perfect age -- in their prime," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said.

Detroit's smothering defense is led by five-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom.

Chris Osgood is 6-0 as a starter since replacing Dominik Hasek in the first round against Nashville, showing Babcock is making the right moves behind the bench.

"Things couldn't be better for us," Babcock said.

The Red Wings, who beat the Nashville Predators in six games and swept the Avs, are in the Western Conference finals for the second straight year.

Detroit led the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 last year before losing to the eventual champion.

The Red Wings will play the winner of the Dallas-San Jose series. The Stars or Sharks will have plenty to worry about when they play Detroit.

First, there's Franzen.

Since March 2, he has scored 26 goals to lead the NHL.

"He's been great," Babcock said. "He's a big, big man with lots of skill. We're lucky to have him."

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Swede leads Detroit's No. 2 line that includes Mikael Samuelsson and Valtteri Filppula, both of whom are good enough to take advantage of being left alone if teams focus too much on Franzen.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk are playing off each other as well as they have, creating problems for opponents trying to cope with two of the three finalists for the Selke Trophy that honors forwards for defensive work.

Osgood is giving up just 1 1/2 goals a game, hoping to help the Red Wings win a Stanley Cup as he did a decade ago.

"I have room on my right hand for another ring," he said.