Late goal gives Red Wings sweep of Blue Jackets

Associated Press

COLUMBUS — After three easy victories, the Detroit Red Wings found themselves in a dogfight in Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Luckily, the defending Stanley Cup champions saved up one last bit of magic — and got some help from a controversial call.

Johan Franzen scored on a power play with 46.6 seconds left, giving the Red Wings a 6-5 victory and a series sweep over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The call that led to the man advantage was hotly disputed by the Blue Jackets, who were assessed a bench minor for having too many men on the ice. Replays showed that Fredrik Modin came on the ice and handled the puck while Jake Voracek was still a few feet from the bench.

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said it was a picky call that decided the game.

“By the rulebook, it’s probably the right call. By the circumstances of the game, I didn’t like the call. ... Unless it’s obvious, let’s play,” said Hitchcock, who said the third period had been loosely called to that point.

Marian Hossa had two goals, Nicklas Lidstrom and Holmstrom each had a goal and an assist, and Daniel Cleary also scored for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who will await their conference semifinal opponent.

Franzen scored on a rebound after Jiri Hudler skated along the goal line and had his shot blocked by goalie Steve Mason.

Rick Nash, Kristian Huselius and Kris Russell each had a goal and an assist, and R.J. Umberger and Modin also scored for Columbus, making its first foray into the playoffs in the franchise’s eight seasons.

“We were great. Our fans were great tonight,” Nash said. “That was our best game by far. We proved to ourselves, we proved to the whole city, that we can keep up with them.”

Brad Stuart and Niklas Kronwall each had two assists for the Red Wings, who won a series on the road for the eighth straight time. Their last series-ending win in Detroit was in the 2002 Stanley Cup finals against Carolina.

The Red Wings had pounded the Blue Jackets by a combined 12-2 in the first three games.

With a rowdy crowd of 18,889 roaring on every Columbus hit, shot and save, the Blue Jackets finally gave their fans a taste of playoff intensity. The crowd stood for the entire third period.

Devils 1, Hurricanes 0.

NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy’s NHL record for playoff shutouts, making 44 saves in New Jersey’s victory that moved the Devils within a win of advancing to the second round.

David Clarkson scored a rare power-play goal in helping Brodeur post his 23rd postseason shutout.