Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom (center) scores past Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason (left) during Thursday's game in Columbus, Ohio.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After three easy victories, the Detroit Red Wings found themselves in a dogfight in Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Luckily, the defending Stanley Cup champions saved one last bit of magic – and got some help from a controversial call.
Johan Franzen scored on a power play with 46.6 seconds left, giving the Red Wings a 6-5 victory and a series sweep over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
The call that led to the man advantage was hotly disputed by the Blue Jackets, who were assessed a bench minor penalty for having too many men on the ice. Replays showed Fredrik Modin came on the ice and handled the puck while Jake Voracek was still a few feet from the bench.
Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said it was a picky call that decided the game.
“By the rulebook, it’s probably the right call. By the circumstances of the game, I didn’t like the call. Unless it’s obvious, let’s play,” said Hitchcock, who said the third period had been loosely officiated to that point.
Marian Hossa had two goals, Nicklas Lidstrom and Holmstrom each had a goal and an assist, and Daniel Cleary also scored for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who will await their conference semifinal opponent.
“It definitely was the hardest (game of the series),” said Hossa, who signed on with the Red Wings for one year solely to win a Cup. “We got lucky at the end when they had six on the ice.”
Flyers 3, Penguins 0: At Pittsburgh, Arron Asham and Claude Giroux, role players on a team filled with goal scorers, got the first two goals and the Flyers avoided elimination.
Martin Biron made 28 saves, and Mike Knuble also scored for Philadelphia. Game 6 is Saturday in Philadelphia. The Penguins lead the series 3-2.
Devils 1, Hurricanes 0: At Newark, N.J., Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy’s NHL record for playoff shutouts, making 44 saves to help New Jersey take a 3-2 series lead.
David Clarkson scored a power-play goal in helping Brodeur post his 23rd postseason shutout.
Game 6 is Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.
Ducks 4, Sharks 0: At Anaheim, Calif., Anaheim rookie Bobby Ryan scored two goals, Jonas Hiller made 31 saves in his second playoff shutout, and the Ducks rocked their rivals yet again, winning to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Corey Perry had a late goal and an assist, and Ryan Getzlaf added two assists for the Ducks, who emphatically moved within one game of becoming the eighth No. 8 seed to win an NHL playoff series since 1994.
Game 5 is Saturday night at San Jose.