Jim McIsaac / Getty Images / AFP
Red Wings make great start in Stanley Cup finals
Published 31 May, 2009, 10:57
The Detroit Red Wings have gone ahead in their Stanley Cup final series with luck on their side in the opening game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on home ice.
The hosts of the Joe Louis Arena took the lead in the middle of the first period. Brad Stuart’s shot from the blue line went wide, but the puck ricocheted from the side and went on to goal after contact with the leg of Pittsburgh net minder Marc-Andre Fleury.
Not backing down, the Pens equalized at the end of the first 20 minutes as Ruslan Fedotenko was first on the rebound after keeper Chris Osgood failed to clear Evgeny Malkin’s effort, leveling 1-1.
Fortunately for Osgood, this was his only mistake of the match. The Canadian, who made 31 saves, was named the Man of the Match.
The Penguins didn’t score again on the night, while the Red Wings had no problem in finding the net once more, despite not having their Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk on the ice due to injury.
Another ricochet helped Detroit take the lead in the last minute of the second period with
Johan Franzen putting his name on the scoreboard.
The home team sealed the deal in the beginning of the third. Justin Abdelkader was the quickest at the Pittsburg crease to make it 3-1.
The Red Wings and the Penguins are fighting for the NHL championship for the second year in a row. Last time Detroit beat Pittsburgh in six games, 4-2.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Sunday, May 31.
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