DETROIT (AP) -Johan Franzen was scratched from the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals because of concussion-like symptoms.
Franzen didn’t play Saturday night against the Dallas Stars as a precaution because he’s had recurring headaches dating to early in the previous series.
“It caught everybody by surprise,” teammate Darren Helm told CBC during a first-intermission interview. “I don’t know if anyone really knew what was going on. We have to give him his rest and hopefully he recovers as soon as possible.”
The Red Wings said Franzen will not play until he has more tests and an evaluation is completed. Franzen is scheduled for tests Monday in Detroit and will miss that night’s Game 3 in Dallas.
Detroit general manager Ken Holland said Franzen has had headaches – which the GM described as “nothing significant” – since playing the Colorado Avalanche earlier this month, and they haven’t subsided.
“We don’t know if he’s had a concussion,” Holland said. “We’re hoping to find out more after he goes through various tests this weekend and sees a specialist on Monday.”
Franzen has scored an NHL-high 27 times since March 2, a 27-game roll that includes a league-high and franchise-record 12 goals in the postseason. He is the first player to score 12 playoff goals since Rob Brind’Amour for Carolina in 2006.
The player known as Mule matched a team playoff record with a goal in the series-opening win over Dallas, extending his scoring streak to five games. Gordie Howe pulled off the feat in 1949 and ’64. Ted Lindsay scored in five consecutive games in 1952.
Franzen has 15 points in 11 playoff games, tying Jaromir Jagr of the already-eliminated New York Rangers.
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