BY HELENE ST. JAMES FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Red Wings coaches had a simple message for Slava Kozlov: Shoot the puck more. A lot more. 

Kozlov, stuck with just three goals through the season's first 17 games, was averaging 2.41 shots a game, far below the expectations of coach Scotty Bowman. The message sank in Monday night against Anaheim, when Kozlov scored two goals on four shots in the Wings' 6-3 victory at Joe Louis Arena. 

"We've been after him to do that," Bowman said. "He has to shoot the puck more." 

The goals were Kozlov's first in nine games, a drought that left him "a little bit sour," according to teammate and good friend Igor Larionov. "I know he was working hard, but sometimes the puck just doesn't go in. But he scored two huge goals, and I hope it gives him huge confidence and he'll play a better level of hockey."