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Red Wings advance to Western semis

Franzen's goal in second overtime eliminates Calgary

Image: Red WingsGetty Images
The Detroit Red Wings celebrate their overtime victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday, a win that advanced the Wings to the Western Conference semifinals.

CALGARY, Alberta - Johan Franzen took a long shot and the Saddledome crowd fell eerily silent. The Detroit Red Wings knew they had just won their first-round playoff series.

Franzen scored early in the second overtime period, leading the Red Wings to a series-clinching 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night.

“It was so quiet, so ‘Is it really in?”’ Franzen said. “It was just an awesome feeling and it’s good to have it over with.”

Detroit, the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, won the series 4-2 and will play either sixth-seeded Dallas or No. 5 San Jose in the second round. The Stars play Vancouver in Game 7 on Monday.

Franzen took a cross-ice pass off the boards from Nicklas Lidstrom, cruised into the high slot and beat Miikka Kiprusoff at 4:23 of the second extra period.

Lidstrom, who had two goals and five assists in the series, didn’t see the winning goal — only his jubilant teammates.

“I passed it off the boards to him when I went for a line change and I saw the bench go crazy when I was going to sit down, so I have to watch it later tonight to see how that puck went in,” Lidstrom said.

Robert Lang also scored for the Red Wings, who won at Calgary for the first time since April 3, 2006, after outshooting the Flames 55-21.

“We wanted to win it here tonight,” Lidstrom said. “Finally, we won on the road and it won the series for us.”

Jarome Iginla had Calgary’s lone goal on a difficult day for the Flames. Hours before being eliminated, the team was fined $100,000 and head coach Jim Playfair penalized an additional $25,000 for the Flames’ actions in a penalty-filled finish to Saturday’s game in Detroit. Backup goaltender Jamie McLennan was also suspended for five games.

The Flames had a chance to win it in the first overtime period, but David Moss couldn’t convert during a power play. Lang was called for hooking at 11:43, and Moss took a shot that deflected high off the helmet of a sprawling Dominik Hasek.

Calgary forward Craig Conroy took a double-minor for high-sticking Tomas Holstrom at 6:44 of the extra period, but Kiprusoff was outstanding as Detroit topped 50 shots.

Kiprusoff shut down Henrik Zetterberg on two excellent chances and held the Flames in it even though they were outshot 17-5 in the period. He faced 255 shots in six games — an average of 42 a game.

“We lived and died by him and we didn’t do enough to help him,” Flames defenseman Rhett Warrener said. “The amount of shots he faced, that was like three series for a goalie.”

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Daniel Cleary had a chance to win it with 1:17 left in regulation, but hit the post to Kiprusoff’s left.

Iginla scored his second of the series to give the Flames a 1-0 lead at 3:09 of the second period, but Lang tied it with his first goal of the postseason with 3:06 left in the period.

Notes: Detroit was scoreless on five power-play chances, while Calgary went 0-for-4. ... Flames defenseman Mark Giordano took a puck in the face off a shot by Mathieu Schneider in the first period, but later returned. ... Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr (knee) skated Sunday morning, but was scratched for the fourth straight game. ... Defenseman Brent Lebda wasn’t in Detroit’s lineup. His leg was twisted awkwardly into the boards while checking Daymond Langkow on Saturday. Kyle Quincey replaced him. ... After losing two games at the Saddledome last week, the Red Wings switched up their stall assignments in the visitors’ dressing room Sunday.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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