Johan-Franzen-10-15-13

Red Wings forward Johan Franzen isn't shooting the puck enough this season.

(The Associated Press)

CALGARY, Alberta – Johan Franzen joined his teammates for practice Thursday after being away for a few days and, according to captain Henrik Zetterberg, looked pretty fired up.

“It could be a Mule game tomorrow,’’ Zetterberg said.

The Detroit Red Wings could use one of those. They've had only one "Mule game'' this season, when Franzen scored a pair of power-play goals in a 4-2 victory at Colorado Oct. 17.

Those are Franzen’s only goals in 12 games (he has three assists). The Red Wings are struggling to score (averaging 2.23 goals per game, 23rd in the NHL) and need more production from the big forward. He has scored between 27 and 34 goals in his past four full seasons.

Despite the lack of production, Franzen believes he’s playing well.

“I feel really effective, actually,’’ he said. “I had two good chances and scored on both of them this year, so it feels pretty good, actually.’’

Franzen missed Wednesday's 2-1 win in Vancouver with what he said was an upper-body injury. He did not practice Monday or Tuesday, joining the club in Calgary on Thursday. He was back at center in practice, with Daniel Alfredsson and Daniel Cleary. Coach Mike Babcock said he'll use that line Friday against the Flames at the Saddledome. Luke Glendening was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins.



Franzen said he and the team need to generate more scoring chances. He did that in his previous game, registering seven shots in a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday to the New York Rangers.

But Franzen isn’t shooting enough. He is averaging only 2.08 shots per game, the lowest average since his rookie season of 2005-06 (1.49), when he played on a checking line.

“I think he’s doing a lot of good things except scoring,’’ Zetterberg said. “He creates a lot of chances.’’

Inconsistency has been an issue with Franzen. He scores goals in bunches and goes through long stretches where he’s not skating hard and isn’t effective.

“He just has to stick with it, keep shooting, keep being in the right spots,’’ Zetterberg said. “Get some ugly ones.’’

Babcock said of Franzen, “Sometimes things don’t go the way you want at the start. Mule has the ability to be a real good player in the league and you got to bring it out of yourself each and every night if you’re going to be successful. Goal-scorers got to shoot the puck.’’

Part of the reason Franzen is playing center is the team is thin at the position and that's the position he played much of his career before coming to the NHL in 2005-06.

But, he’s also playing center because it forces him to skate more.

“He’s more involved in the game, he gets more pucks,’’ Zetterberg said. “He always wants to have the puck and it’s easier to have that as the center than a winger. In the games he’s played as the center I think he’s had the best games.’’

Franzen still is seeking his first even-strength goal.

“I think he missed us, actually,’’ Zetterberg said. “He looked happy to be back here again. Obviously, had a long day already, but he’s going to be fired up tomorrow.’’

That can only mean one thing, he’s due for a Mule game, right?

“I think so,’’ Zetterberg said. “It will be here soon.’’