DET vs COL

Detroit - Johan Franzen, nicknamed "The Mule", is playing more like a thoroughbred in the Western Conference semifinals so far.

The Detroit Red Wings' forward has single-handedly outscored the Colorado Avalanche so far through the first two games, 5-4. Saturday, he scored the Red Wings' first playoff hat trick since Darren McCarty also did it to the Avalanche in the 2002 Western finals.

Franzen is doing it every which way. There have been tip-ins, short-handed rebound putbacks, nifty backhanders following pirouettes behind the net and one-timers from the circle.

What has gotten into the Swede?

"Just confidence I think," coach Mike Babcock said. "He was playing real well at the end of the season the last month and a half, and right now he's playing real well and making the most of his opportunities. He's a big man with a lot of skill and good hands."

Still, the Avalanche is making him look like Gordie Howe, which is not what was on the drawing board before the series.

"He's got a hot stick right now," Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said. "Everything he touches seems to be going in. I think we need to be a little tighter around the net and make it a little more challenging in that area."

Yeah, just a little. The Avs were thoroughly embarrassed in this one, getting outshot 40-20. The team has lost six straight to Detroit this season, and four straight in the playoffs since 2002.

"We've got to regroup, and figure out how we're going to get better," said captain Joe Sakic, who has no points in the series.

The Red Wings, unlike Game 1, never let up after getting a healthy lead in the second period. Goalie Chris Osgood could have played solitaire in his net for all of the pressure Colorado put on him, allowing just a third-period Ian Laperriere goal.

Franzen got the game's first two goals, then made it 5-1 in the third with a second-chance, short-handed backhander out of midair against backup Colorado goalie Peter Budaj.

Despite getting pulled for the second straight game, and having allowed eight goals on 36 shots so far in the series, Jose Theodore is likely to be the starter for Game 3, Quenneville indicated strongly.

"He's the guy who got us here," Quenneville said.

The Avalanche again had to do without star Peter Forsberg (groin). Forsberg took the pre-game skate and appeared to be in good spirits, joking with people along the Avs bench. But when the scratch list was given to the media a few minutes later, Forsberg's name was on it.

That seemed to demoralize everybody around the team again, and Forsberg might start coming in for some criticism from the Denver media soon. Fair or not, Forsberg's inability to "play hurt" was a hot topic among fans and pundits alike.

Colorado also had to play without minute-munching defenceman Scott Hannan, who couldn't play for the first time this season because of a leg injury, the result of blocking a shot in Game 1.

Colorado took five straight minor penalties in the second period, giving them no chance to mount a comeback.

"We kind of got off our game," veteran Adam Foote said. "We've got to be more in control. That's just feeding what they're good at, and we can't give them that many power plays."

NOTEBOOK: Neither team will practice Sunday. … Avalanche rookie Cody McLeod grabbed the traditional pre-game octopus and hurled it into the tunnel behind the Avs bench, nearly hitting the attendant. … Avs winger Ryan Smyth blocked a shot and was limping around some after the game.