DETROIT -- The NHL appears to be following through on its promise to crack down on hits to the head, particularly blindside shots.

Phoenix's Shane Doan was suspended three games for a blindside hit to the head on Anaheim's Dan Sexton on Sunday. Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta, Ottawa's Nick Foligno and Edmonton's Tom Gilbert were fined for less flagrant head shots.

Dallas defenseman Mark Fistric, however, was not punished for elbowing Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in the face during the first period of the Stars' 4-1 win Oct. 14.

Franzen, who missed the remainder of that game and the following game,

against the Calgary Flames at Joe Louis Arena after passing his baseline concussion test Tuesday.

Franzen is upset about the hit and wonders why the league did not act.

"Yeah, I'm surprised,'' he said. "I don't know what's going on.''

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland thinks the league wasn't able to conclusively determine what happened.

"I looked at the video, it was gray,'' Holland said. "In talking to Franzen, he tells me he got an elbow to the head. In the video, it was hard to be conclusive in what happened. You can see them coming together and then Mule went down.

"If they're going to suspend somebody, they need clear, concise pictures.''

Although Fistric was exonerated, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is glad the league is being proactive on the issue.

"You should act on those things,'' Babcock said. "Any blows to the head should be penalties, should be automatic. I thought that's what it was all about this summer (with the new rule implementation).

"When Franzen got hurt, and even when Rusty Salei got elbowed in the head in Chicago (by Duncan Keith on Oct. 9), our players -- and it's not just because it's their (teammates) -- they want that to be looked after. That's the mandate of the league, and I like what they're doing.''

Franzen said he feels "perfectly normal.''

"The day after the incident I felt pretty good, pretty sharp,'' Franzen said. "Usually when you start working out, that's when some headaches occur, that's when you worry a little bit. You try not to push too hard the first time.''

Franzen will return to his left wing spot on the line with Valtteri Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi, the team's most effective unit so far (they've combined for six goals and 14 points).

Babcock said he won't alter his power-play combinations for now after moving Franzen to the top unit with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom and shifting Henrik Zetterberg to the second unit with Jiri Hudler and Bertuzzi halfway through Monday's practice.

The Red Wings are starting a four-game homestand and play 10 of their next 13 at home. They realize the importance of taking advantage of the early season schedule.

"No question you want to get off to a good start,'' Babcock said. "The league is jammed together very tight. Our priority is to become a dominant home team. We have a homestand, we need to get going.''