Franzen scores six points as Red Wings stay alive in Game 4

Associated Press

Detroit

Johan Franzen had a natural hat trick in a 3:26 span of the first period, scored a fourth goal in the third, and set a Red Wings playoff record with six points as Detroit stayed alive with a 7-1 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.

San Jose will host Game 5 on Saturday night with another chance to advance to hockey’s final four for the second time in franchise history.

Franzen was originally credited with scoring the first goal 5:40 into the game, but a scoring change gave the goal to Todd Bertuzzi. That prevented Franzen from tying the NHL playoff record with four goals in a period.

“Hopefully, I can get some confidence and the team can get some confidence,” Franzen said. “I’ve been struggling on the goal-scoring side.”

Valtteri Filppula put Detroit ahead 5-0 late in the first period on a shot that went off San Jose defenseman Douglas Murray and effectively ended Evgeni Nabokov’s night.

Franzen had just two goals in the first 10 playoff games.