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Red Wings 7, Senators 5
Associated Press

OTTAWA (AP) - There is something about Ottawa that brings out the best in Johan Franzen.

Franzen was a one-man show Wednesday night, scoring five goals to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 7-5 victory over the slumping Ottawa Senators.

"I've only been in here twice, I think, but I scored two goals the last time I was here," he said. "I like this building."

Franzen is the first NHL player to score five goals in a game since Minnesota's Marian Gaborik did it on Dec. 20, 2007. Franzen is the first player to score five times against the Senators.

"Guys were setting me up all night," Franzen said of linemates Henrik Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi. "Hank and Bert didn't want to shoot it themselves, they were just trying to set me up."

Kris Draper and Niklas Kronwall also scored, and Jimmy Howard made 29 saves for the Red Wings. It was Detroit's first visit to Ottawa since October 2008.

Milan Michalek scored twice for Ottawa, and Peter Regin had a goal and two assists. Chris Campoli and Alex Kovalev also scored for the Senators.

The Senators (17-27-8) have lost 14 of 15 and haven't won a home game since beating Pittsburgh on Dec. 26. Ottawa's 0-6-2 home skid is the team's longest since going 0-7-1 from Jan. 31-March 2, 1996.

"It really is tough," Campoli said. "For the most part we've struggled to score goals this year, and when you get five more often than not you're going to win the game. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way."

Robin Lehner was pulled midway through the second period after allowing four goals on 19 shots in his first home start. Brian Elliott allowed two goals on 19 shots in relief.

The Senators took a 1-0 lead on Kovalev's power-play goal, but Franzen scored twice in 48 seconds to put Detroit ahead.

Ottawa retook the lead when Regin and Campoli both scored their second goals of the season.

"It's really frustrating," Regin said of the loss. "It's been a tough stretch for me, so it was good to finally get on the board. But at the same time we didn't win so it doesn't mean that much."

After a slow start to the second period the Red Wings scored twice in a span of 13 seconds to go back in front. Lehner made two great saves, but couldn't stop Draper on the third attempt as he beat the rookie over the shoulder.

On the ensuing play, the Red Wings took control and continued to pressure Ottawa deep in its end before Nicklas Lidstrom found Kronwall at the blue line. Kronwall drilled a shot through traffic and beat Lehner through the legs.

That marked the end of Lehner's night. The home fans didn't appreciate the goaltending change as Elliott, who has lost his last 11 starts, was soundly booed.

"Those things are going to happen," Lehner said. "Our guys have been waiting for a game like this where our guys step up and score like they did, and it's a big disappointment for me to not be the guy to make sure they get that win."

Franzen completed his hat trick with a power-play goal 30 seconds into the third, beating the Elliott to the short side.

The Senators tied it 5-5 just 29 seconds later when Michalek scored his second of the night.

Back-to-back penalties gave the Red Wings a two-man advantage for 68 seconds, and they made the most of it as Franzen scored his fourth of the game to make it 6-5.

The Senators appeared to tie it again with just under eight minutes remaining, but the goal was disallowed on the ice. The call was then confirmed by video review.

Franzen capped the scoring with an empty-net goal.

Notes: Ottawa D Matt Carkner was a healthy scratch. LW Jarkko Ruutu was back in the lineup after missing the last three games. The Senators were without G Pascal Leclaire (lower body) and C Jason Spezza (shoulder). ... Detroit was without C Pavel Datsyuk (hand), C Mike Modano (wrist), LW Thomas Holmstrom (hand), G Chris Osgood (groin), and D Brad Stuart (jaw).


Three star selections
1st:   JOHAN FRANZEN
2nd:   MILAN MICHALEK
3rd:   HENRIK ZETTERBERG
Winning Goaltender
Jimmy Howard

Losing Goaltender
Brian Elliott

SCHEDULE

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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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