DETROIT — Johan Franzen, the NHL's leading playoff goal-scorer, was not in the line-up Saturday night when the Detroit Red Wings took to the ice for the second game of their Western Conference final playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Moments before puck drop, the Red Wings announced that Franzen would not be available as a result of “concussion-like” symptoms. Franzen has already been ruled out for Monday's third game of the series as well.
According to the Red Wings, Franzen has been experiencing recurring headaches since early in the previous series against the Colorado Avalanche. That makes Franzen's play in that series even more extraordinary – he scored nine goals in four games, an NHL playoff record. Franzen also scored the winning goal in Thursday night's 4-1 victory over the Stars in the series opener.
To replace Franzen in the line-up, the Red Wings restored Darren McCarty to the roster. However, it was Daniel Cleary that moved up the depth chart to play on the second line with Franzen's usual linemates, Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson.
The Red Wings' medical staff recommended that Franzen be held out of the next two games for precautionary reasons and said he will not play until further testing and evaluation is completed. Franzen is scheduled to remain in Detroit to undergo those tests on Monday, while the rest of the team is scheduled to travel to Dallas on Sunday.
