Calder Cup Finals: Game 1

Red Wings top Penguins in Stanley Cup opener

Datsyuk, Draper out for Game 2
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is keeping his lineup the same for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals, meaning injured forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper will again sit out against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The teams will be back on the ice Sunday night, less than 24 hours after the Red Wings took the series opener 3-1 on Saturday. Previously injured defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson played in Game 1 and will be back for Sunday’s game.

2009 NHL Playoff Central
The Pens and Wings will face each other in a repeat of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Check out the action in our Playoff Central.

Oilers sign Kytnar to 3-year contract
The Oilers signed centre Milan Kytnar to a three-year entry level contract Sunday.

The Oilers signed centre Milan Kytnar to a three-year entry level contract Sunday.

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Oilers sign Kytnar to 3 yr contract
The Oilers signed centre Milan Kytnar to a three-year entry level contract Sunday.

The Oilers signed centre Milan Kytnar to a three-year entry level contract Sunday.

2009 NHL Playoff Central
The Pens and Wings will face each other in a repeat of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Check out the action in our Playoff Central.

When Quinn was a King
Pat Quinn has thought more about the 1963 Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the last few days than in any span during the last 46 years.

Pat Quinn has thought more about the 1963 Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the last few days than in any span during the last 46 years.

Calder Cup Finals: Game 1

Red Wings, Penguins to play Game 2 at 8 p.m.
Thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL will have prime time to itself on Sunday night. The NHL announced Saturday that Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals will begin at 8 p.m. EDT, matching the start time for the other six games of the series between the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The original series schedule didn’t list a time for the game.

Hockey’s best playoff superstitions
Playoff beard? Good. Trophy touch? Not so good. Sidney Crosby needs to review The Hockey News‘ 10 playoff superstitions.

Mountain men appeal to Duchene
If the National Hockey League draft unfolds the way many are projecting, Matt Duchene will be on a Rocky Mountain high.

If the National Hockey League draft unfolds the way many are projecting, Matt Duchene will be on a Rocky Mountain high.

Crosby laughs off ‘head hunting’ dig
The battle is starting to heat up in the Stanley Cup final.

The battle is starting to heat up in the Stanley Cup final.

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Bettman not trying to block Balsillie (AP)
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman insists he is merely trying to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, not block Jim Balsillie from buying the team and setting up shop in Ontario. Bettman sat in a hotel ballroom in the heart of Hockeytown on Saturday and spent much of his time answering questions about the struggling desert-based Coyotes franchise that landed in bankruptcy court against his will.

Detroit’s lively boards frustrate Pens (AP)
Game 1 of a playoff series is almost always the Detroit Red Wings’ game, and give credit in part to their home-ice advantage. The Pittsburgh Penguins? They probably feel like giving the Red Wings two minutes for boarding. The Red Wings used their knowledge of Joe Louis Arena’s exceptionally lively boards to repeatedly set up offensive plays that led to rebound goals — and frustrate the Penguins…

GM: Leafs need more bite

Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke laughs at all the rumours about his team, even if he can’t address them.

Lidstrom, Ericsson return to stymie Pens (AP)

Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson couldn’t have come back at a better time for the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. The Swedish defensemen returned for Game 1 of the finals Saturday night and were instrumental in limiting the Pittsburgh Penguins to one goal and holding star Sidney Crosby scoreless in Detroit’s 3-1 victory.

Red Wings’ Marian Hossa eyes first Stanley Cup

Marian Hossa is four wins away from having his plan work to perfection. He could hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Game One: Red Wings 3 – Penguins 1

Wings’ Abdelkader scores first NHL goal (AP)
Justin Abdelkader’s first NHL goal is hard to top. The Detroit Red Wings rookie scored in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night. His initial shot was turned away by Marc-Andre Fleury, but Abdelkader stuck with it, firing past the Pittsburgh goalie on his second try to give the Wings an insurance goal in their 3-1 win Saturday night.

Red Wings DJ T’s it up for the Joe Louis faithful

Not sure who scored that last Red Wings goal? Just wait for the music. If it’s Sammy Hagar’s lust-for-speed anthem “I Can’t Drive 55,” then bruising defenseman Niklas Kronwall put it in the net.

Kids can win Penguins tickets in essay contest

Pittsburgh children can win tickets to Penguins games by entering an essay contest, and the winners will be escorted by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

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Hockey’s best playoff superstitions
Playoff beard? Good. Trophy touch? Not so good. Sidney Crosby needs to review The Hockey News‘ 10 playoff superstitions.

PHOTOS: Stanley Cup finals Game 1
It was a tough night for Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins. Check out action from the first game of the Stanley Cup finals.

2009 NHL Playoff Central
The Pens and Wings will face each other in a repeat of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Check out the action in our Playoff Central.

Red Wings’ Marian Hossa eyes first Stanley Cup

Marian Hossa is four wins away from having his plan work to perfection. He could hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Game One: Red Wings 3 – Penguins 1

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Wings’ Abdelkader scores first NHL goal (AP)
Justin Abdelkader’s first NHL goal is hard to top. The Detroit Red Wings rookie scored in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night. His initial shot was turned away by Marc-Andre Fleury, but Abdelkader stuck with it, firing past the Pittsburgh goalie on his second try to give the Wings an insurance goal in their 3-1 win Saturday night.

Bettman not trying to block Balsillie (AP)
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman insists he is merely trying to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, not block Jim Balsillie from buying the team and setting up shop in Ontario. Bettman sat in a hotel ballroom in the heart of Hockeytown on Saturday and spent much of his time answering questions about the struggling desert-based Coyotes franchise that landed in bankruptcy court against his will.

Hockey’s best playoff superstitions
Playoff beard? Good. Trophy touch? Not so good. Sidney Crosby needs to review The Hockey News‘ 10 playoff superstitions.

Detroit’s lively boards frustrate Pens (AP)
Game 1 of a playoff series is almost always the Detroit Red Wings’ game, and give credit in part to their home-ice advantage. The Pittsburgh Penguins? They probably feel like giving the Red Wings two minutes for boarding. The Red Wings used their knowledge of Joe Louis Arena’s exceptionally lively boards to repeatedly set up offensive plays that led to rebound goals — and frustrate the Penguins…

Lidstrom, Ericsson return to stymie Pens (AP)

Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson couldn’t have come back at a better time for the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. The Swedish defensemen returned for Game 1 of the finals Saturday night and were instrumental in limiting the Pittsburgh Penguins to one goal and holding star Sidney Crosby scoreless in Detroit’s 3-1 victory.

Penguins unable to finish in Game 1 loss (AP)

Evgeni Malkin on a breakaway, just missed. Miroslav Satan with an open net in front of him, just missed. Sidney Crosby off the post, just missed. The Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup finals rematch against Detroit? Just missed. The Penguins were certain they had shed the inexperience, the shakiness, the lack of confidence and the unfamiliarity with the championship setting that…

Red Wings top Penguins in Stanley Cup opener

Inside Hockey: Youngsters lead Wings
The Wings are known as an older team, but it was young guys like Johan Franzen that got them a Game 1 win, Inside Hockey says.

PHOTOS: Stanley Cup finals Game 1
It was a tough night for Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins. Check out action from the first game of the Stanley Cup finals.

Youngsters Lead Red Wings

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Franzen, Abdelkader score as Red Wings beat Penguins in Game 1 of Stanley Cup
DETROIT – Johan Franzen gave Detroit the lead and rookie Justin Abdelkader got his first NHL goal as the Red Wings downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in the opening game of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday night.

DETROIT – Johan Franzen gave Detroit the lead and rookie Justin Abdelkader got his first NHL goal as the Red Wings downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in the opening game of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday night.

Stanley Cup Game 2 slated for prime time (AP)
Thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL will have prime time to itself on Sunday night. The NHL announced Saturday that Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals will begin at 8 p.m. EDT, matching the start time for the other six games of the series between the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Coyotes can turn things around: Bettman
Gary Bettman doesn’t have to look very far to find some evidence that the Phoenix Coyotes situation can be turned around.

Gary Bettman dœsn’t have to look very far to find some evidence that the Phœnix Coyotes situation can be turned around.

Radio Show Insiders predictions

Radio Show Preview 5/30

New coach Bylsma saved Penguins’ season (AP)
What the Red Wings ask Pavel Datsyuk to do, the Penguins ask of Sidney Crosby. Be a star. Be yourself. Think big, but also remember it’s the little things that win hockey games: Getting to the puck, backchecking, being a two-way player. Call it the Mike Babcock influence upon Dan Bylsma. Bylsma didn’t begin coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins until 3 1/2 months ago, yet he has them within four victories…

Opportunistic Wings claim Game 1
The Red Wings drew first blood in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup final rematch Saturday night at the Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings drew first blood in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup final rematch Saturday night at the Jœ Louis Arena.

Wings’ Hossa set to face team he spurned (AP)

The Detroit Red Wings’ chances to challenge Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin improved greatly the day before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals when their battered blue line got good news. Six-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom said Friday he will play in the series opener after missing two games with a lower-body injury and Detroit coach Mike Babcock declared another defenseman, Jonathan…

Kelly Cup Finals: Game 4

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Stanley Cup Game 2 slated for prime time (AP)
Thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL will have prime time to itself on Sunday night. The NHL announced Saturday that Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals will begin at 8 p.m. EDT, matching the start time for the other six games of the series between the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Chicago GM Tallon working on next season (AP)
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon is wasting little time in trying to keep the team together after a strong run in the postseason. The Blackhawks, who hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2002, were knocked out of the Western Conference finals by Detroit on Wednesday night. On Friday, Tallon said he spoke with Allan Walsh, the agent for Martin Havlat, about retaining the forward who could…

Turco Must Bounce Back

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Pens, Wings set for Stanley Cup rematch (AP)

Chris Osgood has seen up close what it takes to win consecutive Stanley Cups. Osgood was the Detroit Red Wings’ No. 1 goaltender in 1998 when they repeated a year after he was a backup on their championship team. He won his third Cup last year against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will go for No. 4 Saturday night in Game 1 of the finals.

‘Fleury flop’ not likely to be repeated (AP)
The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to put the experience of last year’s Stanley Cup finals appearance to good use in the rematch against the Detroit Red Wings. No one more than Marc-Andre Fleury. The young Penguins goalie took a flop as he raced to the ice before Game 1 at Joe Louis Arena. He ran down the tunnel before the final warmup and tumbled off the step and onto the ice.

Wings’ Hossa set to face team he spurned (AP)

The Detroit Red Wings’ chances to challenge Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin improved greatly the day before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals when their battered blue line got good news. Six-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom said Friday he will play in the series opener after missing two games with a lower-body injury and Detroit coach Mike Babcock declared another defenseman, Jonathan…

Stanley Cup Game 2 slated for prime time (AP)
Thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL will have prime time to itself on Sunday night. The NHL announced Saturday that Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals will begin at 8 p.m. EDT, matching the start time for the other six games of the series between the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lidstrom to play; Datsyuk, Draper out for Wings
The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is they’re getting back defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and rookie Jonathan Ericsson for the Stanley Cup finals opener. But the team again will be without injured forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lidstrom, the Red Wings captain, missed the last two victories of the Western Conference finals because of an undisclosed lower body injury.

Five questions for Game 1 in the Cup finals
Can goalie Chris Osgood keep it going for the Stanley Cup? Or will Marc-Andre Fleury shine? That’s one of our Game 1 questions.

Inside Hockey’s Stanley Cup preview
Will the late-season trade for Bill Guerin help the Pens in the Stanley Cup finals? Inside Hockey breaks down the championship series.

Chicago GM Tallon working on next season (AP)
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon is wasting little time in trying to keep the team together after a strong run in the postseason. The Blackhawks, who hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2002, were knocked out of the Western Conference finals by Detroit on Wednesday night. On Friday, Tallon said he spoke with Allan Walsh, the agent for Martin Havlat, about retaining the forward who could…

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Radio Show Insiders predictions

Spector’s pick: Closer than you think
The WIngs pounced on the young Penguins to win it all last year. Spector predicts whether there will be a repeat performance.

Hossa only sees Red
Marian Hossa is a man on a mission.

Marian Hossa is a man on a mission.

Who will win in the rematch?
With the Pens and Wings at the top of their games, this Stanley Cup Finals rematch will be a doozy, The Hockey News says.

Balsillie reveals plans for Hamilton renovations
Jim Balsillie has unveiled his vision for a revamped Copps Coliseum, the arena he hopes will become the new home of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Balsillie’s plan for the 24-year-old Hamilton arena, which would seat up to 18,000, includes an atrium-style entrance lobby, luxury boxes, lounges and restaurants, new seats and a state-of-the art video scoreboard. It’s unclear who will pay for the $150 million renovation to the aging facility.

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Hockey transactions
Movements in the world of hockey Friday:

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:

Flyers Gagne has hip surgery

Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne has had surgery to remove a bone spur and adhesions that built up in his right hip.

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