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Johan Franzen (center) and Tomas Tatar (right) celebrate after Darren Helm (left) scored the Detroit Red Wings' first goal in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders.

(AP Photo)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Detroit Red Wings have spent much of the season trying to find secondary scoring.

They might have finally found it after putting Darren Helm, Johan Franzen and Tomas Tatar together on their No. 2 line.

The trio has combined for nine points – four goals and five assists – in the last two games. Both were shootout losses but that kind of production is what coach Mike Babcock has been searching for all season from a line that doesn't feature Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

"Outstanding," was Babcock's assessment of his second line after Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. "They've given us an opportunity. They've scored goals for us when we've needed them. They've given us a chance.

"That's what you want. That's what you need."

And to think two of the three are still working their way back into top form.

Helm is still trying to get back to full strength after battling a variety of injuries for parts of three seasons and playing only one game last season. And Franzen missed five of six games with an upper-body injury before returning for the last three.

"I thought Helm and Mule have really taken a step for us," Babcock said. "When guys have been out for a while, conditioning kills you. There's no question. Helm went head-to-head with (Islanders captain John) Tavares most of the night and I thought he was outstanding.

"The Mule was strong for us."

Franzen scored twice and drew an assist in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to Washington before picking up a goal in the setback against the Islanders. That gave him five goals and five assists in 16 games.

Four of those points have come in the last two games playing alongside Helm and Tatar.

"We're starting to get some chemistry," Franzen said. "We get great speed from both Helmer and Tats and Tats isn't afraid to hold on to the puck either."

Helm, who battled a mysterious back injury last season as well as a groin injury this season, adds another dimension to the Red Wings' attack with his speed and penalty killing ability.

He has two goals and two assists in seven games this season.

"We've been playing pretty well together," Helm said. "It seems like we have some chemistry out there. We're clicking well. I enjoy playing with those two guys. They bring a couple different elements to our team.

"Obviously, when you're playing well together, it's also fun."

Tatar has two goals and three assists in 13 games this season.

He was the MVP of the AHL playoffs last season while helping Grand Rapids win the Calder Cup.

"They scored four goals" the last two games, Zetterberg said. "We have to be happy about that. But I'd rather score one and win the game right now."

That, of course, was a reference to the Red Wings' six-game skid that includes four straight losses in overtime or shootouts.

Before Babcock put Helm, Franzen and Tatar together, the top line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi was on the ice for eight of the Red Wings' nine goals in their previous four games.