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Red Wings 4, Flames 2
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - The bounces literally went the Detroit Red Wings' way.

Johan Franzen's third-period goal broke a tie, and Henrik Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi both had a goal and an assist in Detroit's 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Franzen, who returned after missing a game because of a head injury, snapped a 2-2 tie 7:55 into the third period when his shot bounced off Miikka Kiprusoff's mask and shoulder before rolling down his back and into the net. Franzen's fourth goal of the season was confirmed by video review.

"I found the rebound (of Bertuzzi's shot) behind the goal line and pulled it out in front and tried to get it up as quick as possible and hope for the best," Franzen said. "The puck was sitting on the back of his shoulder and kind of fell toward the net. I didn't see a chance of it staying out.

"I tried to push him a little, too."

Kiprusoff described a similar picture.

"I felt it on my shoulder, but it rolled in," he said. "Wrong side."

Bertuzzi netted his second of the season with 3:17 left in the game.

Nicklas Lidstrom also scored for Detroit. Pavel Datsyuk had two assists, and Jimmy Howard made 34 saves.

"I thought our goalie was real good early," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said.

Mikael Backlund scored both of Calgary's goals, and Curtis Glencross assisted on each. Kiprusoff stopped 26 shots.

"We had a good start. We took the lead in the first," Kiprusoff said. "We had some chances. Their goalie was pretty good."

Lidstrom's power-play goal made it 2-2 at 3:51 of the second period. He beat Kiprusoff with a one-timed slap shot from the middle of the ice.

The Red Wings (4-1-1) have struggled in the first period this season. They trailed 2-1 after the opening frame against Calgary.

"We've got to find a way to start on time," Howard said. "We've got to stop spotting teams the lead in the first period."

Backlund's first goal opened the scoring with 4:24 left in the first when he put in a one-timed shot from the slot.

Zetterberg tied it with 2:30 remaining in the period with a goal from the bottom of the left circle. Datsyuk found Zetterberg in the circle, and Zetterberg chipped in the pass for his first goal.

"Zetterberg and Datsyuk, they were very good. They beat guys with the puck," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said.

But Backlund put the Flames back in front 40 seconds later when he chipped in a loose puck from in front.

"We didn't play good in the first period: Didn't win any battles, didn't skate good," Babcock said. "We played much better from that point on."

Bertuzzi had the reason why.

"We addressed what was going on in the first. We were making too many mistakes in the neutral zone, turning the puck over and that's not the way we play," Bertuzzi said. "When we start simplifying and getting it deep, getting the cycle going, getting our legs back, we started getting a little bit more momentum."

Notes: Detroit C Kris Draper underwent sports hernia surgery on his left side and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks. ... Calgary LW Raitis Ivanans missed his fifth game because of a head injury.


Three star selections
1st:   NICKLAS LIDSTROM
2nd:   HENRIK ZETTERBERG
3rd:   MIKAEL BACKLUND
Winning Goaltender
Jimmy Howard

Losing Goaltender
Miikka Kiprusoff

SCHEDULE

HOME
AWAY
PROMOTIONAL

STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
6 x - SJS 48 25 16 7 124 116 57
7 x - DET 48 24 16 8 124 115 56
8 x - MIN 48 26 19 3 122 127 55
9 CBJ 48 24 17 7 120 119 55
10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

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