Detroit Red Wings center Johan Franzen's second hat trick in three games fueled the Detroit Red Wings' 8-2 rout Thursday night that completed a sweep of the injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche. Franzen, right, celebrates his hat trick goal as Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj slumps in the net during the second. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)


Franzen, left, looks on as his shot slips past Colorado’s Budaj, center, for a goal as Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles, back left, and Red Wings left winger Henrik Zetterberg, of Sweden, right, look on. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The "Mule" scored on a breakaway in the first period and added a short-handed backhander and a redirection into the net in the second, when the Red Wings scored four times to take a 7-1 lead.

In his first taste of the bitter rivalry, Franzen was simply too dominant to experience the bad blood that usually boils this time of year between the teams. Franzen's nine goals in this series matched Colorado's total. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)


Detroit Red Wings left winger Tomas Holmstrom, left, tries to redirect the puck past Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore who deflects it for a save in the first period. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)



Detroit right wing Mikael Samuelsson (37) scores a goal against Budaj during the third period. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The Red Wings advance to the Western Conference finals against the winner of the Dallas-San Jose series, which the Stars lead 3-1.