Red Wings hammer Flames to take 3-2 lead in series

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DETROIT (AP) -- The Calgary Flames aren't going down without a fight.
Daniel Cleary converted the first successful penalty shot ever in Detroit during the playoffs and Henrik Zetterberg had two goals and an assist in the Red Wings' 5-1 victory over Calgary on Saturday.
When the Flames knew they'd fall behind 3-2 in the first-round series, they weren't satisfied with just some scrums and trash talk.
The lopsided game took an ugly turn with a few minutes left when Calgary backup goalie Jamie McLennan slashed Johan Franzen in the midsection.
"It doesn't belong in hockey," said Franzen, who said the slash shocked him more than it hurt.
The slash might lead to a stiff suspension from the NHL, which gave the Islanders' Chris Simon a 25-game suspension for viciously swinging his stick last month.
McLennan didn't talk to reporters after the game.
"I think the league will take a look at a few things that happened," Zetterberg said.
Flames star Jarome Iginla got into the act, with hooking and cross-checking penalties with 43 seconds left with aggressive stick work.
"It was really about getting some fights going at that point to keep our energy up and carry some anger into the next game," Iginla said with several new stitches over his left eye. "We're not going away."
In the matchup of the Western Conference's first- and eight-seeded teams, the home team has won each game.
The Flames hope the trend continues Sunday night in Game 6.
"I like that we're right back at it," Iginla said.
Cleary, Zetterberg and Chris Chelios scored in the second period and Zetterberg added another goal early in the third to give Detroit a 4-0 lead.
Calgary's Andrei Zyuzin deflected a shot past Dominik Hasek midway through the final period.
Pavel Datsyuk put Detroit ahead 5-1 with 4:18 left to play and about a minute later, Miikka Kiprusoff was replaced by McLennan.
McLennan was on the ice for only 18 seconds because he was penalized for slashing and removed from the game with a match penalty and game misconduct.
Kiprusoff made 33 saves and Hasek had 23.
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2002, Detroit has had a pair of first-round exits and one in the second round -- against the Flames three years ago.
The Red Wings lost their previous two Game 5s -- last year and in 2004 -- and were eliminated in the following game.
Stunting the trend, Detroit dominated the second period by scoring two short-handed goals and one on the power play.
Cleary was awarded a penalty shot after being taken down on a breakaway 3:32 into the second period and he made the most of the rare opportunity. He faked a wrist shot and, when Kiprusoff tried to poke the puck away with his stick, Cleary's backhander beat him high.
"It was a great play," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "Can you imagine how hard your heart would be beating if that was you?"
Cleary converted the first penalty shot in Detroit and attempted the first one for the Red Wings at home since 1937. At Toronto in 1988, Petr Klima scored on a penalty shot.
Zetterberg entered the game scoreless in the series, but changed that in a big way with Detroit's second and fourth goals both on the power play. The Red Wings were 3-for-8 with a man advantage after scoring on just two of 25 power plays in the series.
"The amount of skill we have in this locker room, we knew it was going to come eventually," Zetterberg said.
The first two periods ended with pushing, punches and trash talk. With 4:42 left in the game, Detroit's Todd Bertuzzi and Calgary's Dion Phaneuf were tied up before Bertuzzi lifted Phaneuf off his skates and threw him down.
Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda didn't play after being called for a tripping penalty midway through the third period because he was punched by center Daymond Langkow while both were on the ground.
"I was really disappointed. Not a little, but a lot," Hasek said. "Their goalie, what he did and Iginla, he's the captain of the team and should be in charge.
"Those last 5 or 6 minutes if you were watching on TV, I think it was sort of disappointing."
Notes: If Game 7 is necessary, it will be Tuesday night in Detroit. ... Calgary was without D Robyn Regehr (knee). ... Detroit F Kyle Calder was scratched and replaced by F Jiri Hudler. ... For the third straight game at Joe Louis Arena, batches of empty seats were in numerous upper-bowl sections. ... Chelios scored in the playoffs for the first time since 2002, ending a 41-game streak without a goal. He is in the playoffs for an NHL-record 22nd time.



SI.com - 2007 NHL Playoffs - Wings hammer Flames to take 3-2 lead in series - Saturday April 21, 2007 6:34PM