DENVER, May 2 (UPI) -- Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg combined for five goals Thursday and the Detroit Red Wings stormed into the conference finals by blasting Colorado 8-2.
The Red Wings completed a four-game sweep of the Avalanche and became the first team to reach the NHL's final four. Detroit will meet either Dallas or San Jose to determine the Western Conference's representative in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Zetterberg scored twice in a span of 3:30 of the second period to boost the Red Wings' lead to 5-1. Franzen, who scored in the first period, completed a four-goal second for Detroit, scoring both shorthanded and on the power play. He ran his playoff goal total to an NHL best 11.
Chris Osgood, who took over in goal from Dominik Hasek when Detroit's quarterfinal series with Nashville was tied at 2-2, made 29 saves.
Detroit reached the conference finals for the second straight year. Anaheim defeated the Red Wings at that stage of the playoffs last season en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
The Red Wings won the last of their 10 Stanley Cup titles in 2002.
