Holland says Wings won’t use amnesty buyout on Franzen, who’s set to make close to $4 million each of the next seven seasons

DETROIT – Johan Franzen will come back.

Wings GM Ken Holland also said he would not use one of the club’s two amnesty buyouts on Franzen.

“Yeah, it’s crazy (speculation) for me,” Holland said. “I don’t know where you find 30-goal scorers. There is no hockey store. He played 41 games, he had 14 goals. If you times it by two, that’s 28 goals. How many players in the league score more than 25 goals?”

Franzen will make close to $4 million each of the next seven seasons before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Teams have two amnesty buyouts that can be used over the next two summers, where they can buyout a player for two-thirds of the remaining value of his contract.

The move would not count against the salary cap.

“Obviously it’s at our disposal,” Holland said when asked if he’d use it on any players.

Wings are 14-9 all-time in Game 7s; Zetterberg and Datsyuk have stepped up when it comes to these games

CHICAGO – Here’s a look at how the Wings have done all-time in Game 7s, coming into tonight with a record of 14-9.

2013: Western Conference QF vs. Anaheim, W 3-2
2011: Western Conference SF vs. San Jose, L 3-2
2010: Western Conference QF vs. Phoenix, W 6-1
2009: Stanley Cup Final vs. Pittsburgh, L 2-1
2009: Western Conference SF vs. Anaheim, W 4-3
2002: Western Conference Final vs. Colorado, W 7-0
1996: Western Conference SF vs. St. Louis, W 1-0 2OT
1994: Western Conference SF vs. San Jose, L 3-2
1993: Norris Division SF vs. Toronto, L 4-3 OT
1992: Norris Division SF vs. Minnesota, W 5-2
1991: Norris Division SF vs. St. Louis, L 3-2
1987: Norris Division Final vs. Toronto, W 3-0
1965: Semifinal vs. Chicago, L 4-2
1964: Stanley Cup Final vs. Toronto, L 4-0
1964: Semifinal vs. Chicago, W 4-2
1955: Stanley Cup Final vs. Montreal, W 3-1
1954: Stanley Cup Final vs. Montreal, W 2-1 OT
1950: Stanley Cup Final vs. NY Rangers, W 4-3 2OT
1950: Semifinal vs. Toronto, W 1-0 OT
1949: Semifinal vs. Montreal, W 3-1
1945: Stanley Cup Final vs. Toronto, L 2-1
1945: Semifinal vs. Boston, W 5-3
1942: Stanley Cup Final vs. Toronto, L 3-1

And here’s how the players have performed in the past.

Here is a look at how the Red Wings have fared in Game 7s:
Skater GP W-L G A Pts.
Justin Abdelkader 4 3-1 1 0 1
Joakim Andersson 1 1-0 0 0 0
Todd Bertuzzi 5 3-2 2 0 2
Damien Brunner 1 1-0 0 0 0
Daniel Cleary 5 3-2 1 1 2
Carlo Colaiacovo 1 1-0 0 0 0
Pavel Datsyuk 6 4-2 4 1 5
Patrick Eaves 5 4-1 0 0 0
Jonathan Ericsson 5 3-2 1 1 2
Valtteri Filppula 5 3-2 1 5 6
Johan Franzen 4 3-1 0 2 2
Darren Helm 4 2-2 1 0 1
Jakub Kindl 1 1-0 0 1 1
Niklas Kronwall 5 3-2 0 0 0
Drew Miller 3 1-2 0 0 0
Gustav Nyquist 1 1-0 0 0 0
Kyle Quincey 1 1-0 0 0 0
Mikael Samuelsson 5 2-2 1 1 2
Brendan Smith 1 1-0 0 0 0
Ian White 1 1-0 0 0 0
Henrik Zetterberg 5 3-2 2 6 8

Goalie GP W-L GAA Sv%
Jimmy Howard 3 2-1 2.01 .938

Third period wonders

CHICAGO — The Wings finally held a team down in the third period after taking a two-goal lead into the third period of Game 2.

“I think we kept playing,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “We didn’t sit back, we wanted to go for the next goal and it was nice to see when (Valtteri Filppula) got that fourth one. We kind of finished the game.”

Johan Franzen and Filppula each scored in the third.

“We just kept doing what we do in the first two periods and we had good success,” Damien Brunner said.

The Wings had been outscored 15-5 in the third period heading into Game 2.

Quote of the day … Henrik Zetterberg

CHICAGO – Henrik Zetterberg’s response when asked if Johan Franzen should be more ornery on the ice.

“He could be pretty mean but I think he’s playing the best hockey when he’s a little grumpy,” Zetterberg said. “I think maybe it’s up to us to get him a little bit grumpy before the games.”

Franzen heating up at right time

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock moved Johan Franzen to center on April 5 in Colorado to engage his power forward more.

The move lasted all of two games, but it seems to have done the trick.

Franzen has scored half of his season total in goals over these last seven games to help keep the Wings in playoff contention down the stretch.

“He’s been unbelievable,” forward Patrick Eaves said. “You can’t get the puck off him when he’s playing like this. We really need that. I’m glad he’s on our side and hopefully he continues this into May and June … and July.”

Franzen has 14 goals on the year in 40 games, which ranks second on the team. He also has 17 assists.

To help keep the engagement going, Babcock has had Franzen killing penalties now as well after Drew Miller suffered a broken hand in Vancouver last Saturday.

“He’s very engaged,” Babcock said. “I don’t know if that’s because he’s penalty killing now and playing more. He’s not sitting on the bench (as much), he’s a big man. Sometimes when you’re not penalty killing you’re sitting there. You (don’t) kill penalties, you sit there and watch and as a big man, I don’t know if that’s part of it. But he’s always engaged this time of year. He’s important for us, a huge man with great hands. He’s become a leader on this team. I think he’s really emerged that way this year.”

Franzen has been known to score in bunches.

It’s what happens when he’s not scoring that’s been the problem over this career. He tends to have long stretches where he’s quite ineffective on the ice and has little impact on the game.

“He’s a great player, big, strong and quick on his feet,” said forward Valtteri Filppula, who centers the Wings’ second line with Franzen and Daniel Cleary. “Plus, he’s got a good set of hands. He’s been important for us, scoring some key goals down the stretch and everybody knows how he plays in the playoffs, so it’s a good start that he’s playing well right now.”

In 88 career playoff games, Franzen has 38 goals and 35 assists.

“We need to win here down the stretch so it’s all about playing the way we do,” Franzen said after Thursday’s 5-2 win over Nashville. “We get pucks to the net and we get traffic. We really haven’t been doing that here. We’ve been trying to make the fancy plays on the outside and hoping for an open net somewhere. It doesn’t work like that. You’ve got to play like this and that’s when you start scoring.”

Franzen confident he’ll play; Wings will face Mason and not Rinne between pipes

DETROIT – Forward Johan Franzen appears will be able to play, which leaves Todd Bertuzzi on the sideline again.

Franzen suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of Wednesday night’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

“Just got a little rest, no need to play those last minutes (Wednesday),” Franzen said Thursday. “I thought I’d get off and take the rest. So that’s it.”

Franzen said he is confident he will play.

Wings GM Ken Holland texted that it looks like Franzen is playing, but the final decision won’t come until after warmups.

Franzen did not take part in the optional skate.

Franzen has heated up of late, scoring six goals over the last six games. He scored a power play goal for the Wings, their fourth in two games, on Wednesday.

“We’re playing with more desperation and getting more pucks in front of the net,” Franzen said. “That’s usually where I hang out. So it’s mostly the way we’ve been playing lately.

“It suits me a lot better when we play a straighter game and get pucks to the net,” Franzen added. “You know what everyone is doing out there and it’s a lot easier to play.”

If Franzen can’t play, Bertuzzi will dress.

However, if Franzen plays Bertuzzi will sit according to Wings coach Mike Babcock.

“We just have to prepare for the process here tonight,” Babcock said about playing the Nashville Predators. “We’re playing a team that has a bunch of kids that got called up and are playing well. They get (Mike) Fisher back here tonight. They’re going to play hard. The last time we played them it took us 57 minutes to get to Franzen’s goal to give us some breathing room and I expect the same tonight. Pekka Rinne always gives us a tough time so we’ll have to get to him.”

The Wings won’t be facing Rinne tonight as Chris Mason will start for the Predators in goal.

“Last night you were playing the Stanley Cup champions and tonight you’re playing a team that’s out of the playoffs,” Babcock said. “No disrespect to them, but that sometimes effects your mindset and we can’t let that happen.
Nashville has played us hard each and every night I’ve been here and has beaten us a bunch so we have to be prepared and start on time.”

With two games left in the regular season, the Wings can lock up a playoff berth with a win and a Columbus loss in regulation.

“It’s been a different season for us,” Franzen said. “It’s a good experience for the whole team, just going to come out stronger for it. We’re really starting to play well here at the end when we have to and hopefully we can continue doing that the last two games here.”

The Blue Jackets play at Dallas tonight.

“Well for us the main issue is take care of our own business,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “We cannot rely on what other teams do. We have to make sure that we’re ready to go tonight
and that we’re going after two points tonight. If we just take care of our own business, everything else will sort itself out. I think early energy and just go after them the way we have the last two games. We’ve got to keep doing that.”

If the Wings get no help from anyone else along the way, the Wings need just three points over their final two games to reach the postseason for a 22nd consecutive season.

Bertuzzi, Helm go full practice; Wings control playoff destiny

DETROIT — Todd Bertuzzi and Darren Helm both took part in the full team practice Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, but both had no further updates as to when they might get back in the lineup.

Wings coach Mike Babcock said he hasn’t decided on who he’ll go with on the blue line Wednesday at Calgary.

Four of Detroit’s six remaining games are against team on the outside of the playoff picture.

“Some guys can play better when they don’t have anything on the line,” forward Johan Franzen said. “It’s some days hard to play those teams that don’t have anything to play for. They do something that you don’t expect, maybe, so it’s hard to tell.”

The Wings are currently in eighth in the Western Conference, tied with Columbus with 47 points, but Detroit holds the tiebreaker over the Blue Jackets (regulation and overtime wins, or ROW).

“When you have this kind of must-wins you feel like you’re getting into that playoff mode, which is good,” forward Valtteri Filppula said. “That’s what we need right now.”

Detroit is also a point behind St. Louis and two points behind Minnesota for sixth.

“I think at the end of the day if you look after your own business we’ll be in good shape,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “Obviously you’re curious what’s going on in the other games, but at the same time I think it’s like that every. But this year is different because we’re right on the bubble. Other years it’s more about positioning. It’s definitely a fun time of the year.

“It’s a different feeling, but at the same time it just means that the games matter even more now,” Kronwall added. “Those are the times you want to be playing. The games matter at the end of the regular season. It’s a fun time of the year.”

Babcock juggles up forward lines; Brunner expects to be back Thursday

DETROIT — Wings coach Mike Babcock is trying to generate more offense up front so therefore has decided to juggle up his forward units.

“San Jose’s spread their group out,” Babcock said after practice Tuesday. “We need to generate, we don’t want to give up any more chances against and we want to be solid defensively and continue that way, but we’d like to generate more offense.”

Babcock moved Drew Miller up with Johan Franzen and Gustav Nyquist, while having Valtteri Filppula center a line with Damien Brunner and Daniel Cleary.

“By doing this we can generate more offense,” Babcock said. “We feel Fil, Brunns, Clears that’s a pretty good line. Fil’s been a good centerman for us. We like what Mule’s been doing here and we’re just going to spread our lineup out and go a little bit deeper.”

Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader make up the top line.

“With the line I’m on right now, Mule’s big and strong and can play with the puck, Gus is a skilled player that’s going to get the puck and work hard,” Miller said. “I’ve just got to get out there and get the puck from the corner, get in front of the net. We’re just looking for a balanced lineup. We’ll see if it sticks, if not whatever line I’m on I’ll play the same every night.”

Brunner is expected to return to the lineup Thursday after missing three games with a hip flexor.

Babcock feels Franzen is team’s ‘X-Fator’

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock may have found a way to keep Johan Franzen engaged throughout a whole game … by having him center a forward line.

“I just want Mule to be dominant,” Babcock said. “I think Mule is the X-Factor on this team. He’s big, he’s a good player, if we can (just) get him going at the highest possible level.”

Babcock had Franzen center the Wings’ second line Friday night against Colorado with Valtteri Filppula and Gustav Nyquist as his wingers.

“We said to him grab a line and take it,” Babcock said. “With Fil, (he) gives him real good speed, and Gus makes good plays. I thought they were good (Friday).”

Franzen was drafted by the Wings as a center, but because of their depth through the middle he’s played pretty much solely on wing since he joined the team for the 2005-06 season.

He seemed to like his new role.

“It was fun,” Franzen said. “(You’re a) little bit more involved in the game, got some more pucks, a lot more skating, so it was fun.

“Usually when you’re playing the wing you have a designated spot, you know where you’re going to be, you’re on your wing pretty much every time you go back and forth up and down, and you don’t leave that,” Franzen added. “As a center you can use your, what do you call it … a little more freedom, you try to find openings and you go there. It’s a lot more skating and less stopping.”

The Wings are hoping this move pays off and makes Franzen a more consistent player that they’re looking for.

Franzen won 8-of-13 faceoffs, had one assist, one takeaway and four hits on Friday.

“That’s definitely a good thing, it would be bad if he didn’t think I was one,” Franzen said when he heard Babcock called him an X-Factor on the team. “I’m happy about that. I’m trying as hard as I can. It’s something new and get a little boost maybe.”

The move also allowed Babcock to rejoin Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk together, playing on a line with Justin Abdelkader.

“I just thought the energy level of our group wasn’t great (Thursday) night,” Babcock said. “I just thought this would give us some energy. I thought it did. Everyone’s talking about Pav and Z, but I thought Mule was fantastic in the middle, dominated the faceoff circle, really played well, went head-to-head against (Matt) Duchene all night long and was very good.”

Wings get a much needed bounce back win

DETROIT – One of the best things about this shortened NHL season is that after a clunker one night you have a chance to redeem yourself a day later.

The Wings did just that Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.

Jimmy Howard made 22 saves and the Wings got goals from Justin Abdelkader, Daniel Cleary and Damien Brunner to skate past Colorado, 3-2.

“That’s the best part about this season is we get a game right away to clear our minds and get refocused,” said Abdelkader, who has seven goals this year. “Sunday’s game was obviously not the way we wanted to play, a big disappointment but it was a better effort tonight.”

The Wings lost to Chicago on Sunday, 7-1.

“It was good to get right back at it,” said forward Johan Franzen, who had a pair of assists. “No one was happy with the way we played (Sunday). We came out stronger tonight. It got tight in the end, but we pulled it off.”

“It was great for us,” said Howard, who was pulled after allowing four goals to the Blackhawks on Sunday. “The key was keeping it simple early. We just got the puck deep and went to work and went to work. We weren’t turning it over like we were (Sunday afternoon). That was huge for us and we were able to build a lead.”

Jamie McGinn and Steve Duchene each scored third period goals for the Avalanche, while Semyon Varlamov made 10 saves before being pulled for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who stopped all seven shots he faced.

“We took care of the puck, we were prepared to play, we got good goaltending, the whole thing,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We weren’t very good last night. The guys responded. On a back-to-back it was a real big win for our team. We needed it. I thought we could have been more solid in the third period but still a good win for our team.”

Abdelkader opened the scoring with just over four minutes left in the first period, batting in a puck out of midair.

Franzen’s shot hit Varlamov high on his blocker, bounced straight up and Abdelkader bunted it home.

“I did my best to try and get my stick on the puck and with the Tigers opening the season I wanted to see how I would stack up bunting the puck into the net,” Abdelkader said.

Cleary made it 2-0 Wings with a power play goal.

Franzen had all the time in the world at the side the Colorado goal after taking a feed from Pavel Datsyuk before feathering a pass to Cleary, who jammed it home.

Just over three minutes later, Brunner scored his first goal to snap a 15-game goalless streak.

Gustav Nyquist did a great job keeping the puck in the zone, working it back in and then firing a pass to Brunner for the one timer that spelled the end to Varlamov’s night.

Brunner then gave Nyquist a much relived embrace.

“It was good for him, real relief for a goal scorer,” Babcock said. “Like most goal scorers he’s probably streaky. When you get it going you feel it, next thing you know you’re shooting the puck more. Gus made a real nice play for him.”

Brunner is tied for the team lead in goal scored with Datsyuk. They both have 11.

“He’s a goal scorer,” Franzen said. “It’s tough when you don’t score when you’re a goal scorer. He found a great spot and it was (Nyquist) that made a great pass to him and he doesn’t miss from there. He’s got a great shot, so good for him.”

The Wings let their foot off the gas in the third as Colorado made things close.

McGinn spoiled the Wings’ shutout bid, backhanding a puck past a seemingly defenseless Howard when his stick was knocked out of hands after a mad scramble ensued in his crease. The goal came on the power play six minutes into the third period.

Then Duchene made it real interesting, gloving down a puck in the Wings’ zone and firing a shot past Howard.

Howard preserved the win after robbing PA Parenteau with glove save with seven seconds left in regulation.

“It was trying to take everything away,” Howard said of the save. “He was at a bad angle and if that goes in, it’s completely on me.

“They’re a hardworking team,” Howard added. “They don’t quit. They’re young, they’re fast. They want to get into a track meet with you. For us to be successful against them, you got to play the grind game, keep them on the wall and not let them come flying through the neutral zone.”

Colorado lost 12 straight on road.