Franzen, Zetterberg lead Red Wings past Leafs

TORONTO — Henrik Zetterberg dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs, making them pay nearly every time he touched the puck.

Zetterberg racked up four assists Friday at Air Canada Centre to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 victory. It's the first time in four games the Wings have topped two goals.

Johan Franzen had that many alone, scoring twice before leaving in the second period with a lower-body injury after sliding into the boards. Gustav Nyquist extended his scoring streak to four straight games, and also picked up an assist. Justin Abdelkader also had a goal and an assist.

It was a good response game for the Wings, who'd looked sluggish in their previous outing. There was no such problem in Toronto, where the Wings got on the scoreboard early, and regularly. Jimmy Howard, savior Wednesday against Boston, made 17 saves after two periods, gave up a goal, and then had a good rest of the third period.

A slick pass from Zetterberg to Franzen led to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but the biggest reveal was just how much work Detroit's power play still needs. They had 5:28 with an extra skater, and managed just one shot on James Reimer similar to last game's storyline, when the Wings also had one shot on net through their first three power plays.

The second period showcased just what a wily vet Zetterberg is. Controlling the puck near Toronto's net, he got Reimer down before passing the puck to Franzen for a 2-0 lead before the period was six minutes old. Nyquist sent a pass from Zetterberg five-hole on Reimer to give Detroit a three-goal lead.

That didn't stand for long, as Mike Santorelli scored on a backhand off a give-and-go 21 seconds into the third period after sloppy coverage by the Wings. Zetterberg didn't need long to respond, sending a puck to Nyquist, who found Justin Abdelkader for a back-door tip-in. The Wings got a two-man power play after Dion Phaneuf - who'd caughed up the puck on the Abdelkader goal - roughed up Abdelkader a little more than a minute after Peter Holland had gone to the box. What the Wings did so easily at even strength, they could not match with an extra skater - or two.

The teams meet again Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.

Helene St. James writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett property.