Franzen Lifts Red Wings over Blue Jackets in OT

Johan Franzen scored 45 seconds into overtime Saturday night, carrying the Detroit Red Wings to a 6-5 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.

The win came a night after Detroit dropped a 3-2 shootout decision in Columbus, losing two players in the process. The Red Wings were without goalie Jimmy Howard and forward Tomas Holmstrom for the rematch, bringing their total injured players to seven.

Franzen’s game-winner came when he jumped in from the right point to the top of the faceoff circle and took a pass from Henrik Zetterberg, snapping a shot past Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason. The puck bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net, giving the Red Wings the win.

Columbus seemed to be in control with an early 2-0 lead when Derick Brassard and Grant Clitsome scored in the first 4:12 of the game.

The Red Wings rallied with two quick goals of their own late in the period. Valtteri Filppula snapped a shot past Mason with 2:26 left and Drew Miller tied things up with 40 seconds remaining on an attempted pass from behind the goal line that deflected multiple times to get into the net.

Matt Calvert beat Detroit netminder Joey MacDonald on a breakaway just 2:57 into the second but Jonathan Ericsson’s backhander one minute later snuck past Mason on the short side to tie things back up.

A shot from the high slot by Brian Rafalski slipped past Mason at 8:02 to give the Red Wings their first lead. Rafalski’s initial shot was knocked down at the top of the crease but it had enough momentum to continue on into the net.

RJ Umberger re-tied the game at 1:10 of the third period, banging the rebound of a Fedor Tyutin shot past MacDonald on a Columbus power play.

Kris Draper poked home a rebound 2:22 later to make it 5-4.

With 1:04 left in regulation and Mason on the bench for an extra attacker, Rick Nash snapped a shot from the high slot through traffic and past MacDonald to force overtime.

Umberger’s goal was the only power play goal of the night. Columbus had two tries on the power play and Detroit had one.

MacDonald stopped 25 of 30 shots in earning the win, his first since a 6-3 win against the Blue Jackets while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009. Mason made 28 saves on 34 shots against.

The Red Wings are back in action on Tuesday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.