No Datsyuk, No Problem: Red Wings take 2-0 series lead

Detroit leads series, 2-0 Playing without M.V.P. candidate Pavel Datsyuk for the second consecutive game, the Detroit Red Wings got timely goals and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings have not only overcame the loss of Datsyuk for the first two games of series but they have also quieted their critics that back to back games to start the series would benefit the Penguins. The Red Wings have taken a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight year and are in familiar position as the series shifts to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh struck first on an Evgeni Malkin

Pittsburgh must make the most of their “golden opportunities” as Red Wings take game 1

Detroit leads series, 1-0 New year, same result as Chris Osgood made 31 saves and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena to take a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. While result of of game 1 was the same as last year, a Red Wings win, the Penguins were a much different team last night than the one that the hockey world saw last year in game 1. Pittsburgh outshot the Red Wings 32-30 and they were able to generate a number of scoring chances. “Last time we played them, it took them a couple games to get going. They were very good tonight. They were very competitive,” Detroit

Zetterberg tops the list of Elite performers in game 1

Game 1 Top Performers 1. DET Henrik Zetterberg, C, – Matching up against Sidney Crosby, Henrik Zetterberg was able to neutralize Crosby and slow down the games top player. Zetterberg had an assist in the game and was 75% on draws, winning 15 of 20. Zetterberg’s dominance in the face-off circle led to Johan Franzen’s game winning goal as Zetterberg beat Sidney Crosby on a face-off in the offensive zone. Crosby was 30% on draws and Jordan Staal was 31.6% in the face off in the face-off circle. An area where the Penguins must improve in game 2. 2. DET Chris Osgood, G, – Chris Osgood made 31 saves and made key stops at key moments. Pittsburg had a number

Absence of Datsyuk puts pressure on Marian Hossa

Datsyuk out for Game 1 The Detroit Red Wings will be without M.V.P. candidate Pavel Datsyuk for game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Saturday night. Datsyuk who has a small fracture in his foot, skated today at the Wings morning skate and deemed himself available to play. Head coach Mike Babcock and the Red Wings medical staff made the final call and have ruled Datsyuk out for tonight’s game. This will be the 4th straight game that Datsyuk will miss. Indications are that Datsyuk will return to the lineup by game 3 at the latest. With Datsyuk likely to be limited for the entire series, the pressure will turn to Marian Hossa.

Cup finals Preview: “There will be no surprises this year”

There is a growing sense in NHL circles that the Pittsburgh Penguins are more equipped to upend the Detroit Red Wings in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals which begins tonight at 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh is a more confident and experienced team than the team that went into Joe Louis Arena and were shutout for the first two games of the 08 Finals. Pittsburgh expects a different result as they know what to expect this time around. “Well I think there are no surprises this year,” Sidney Crosby said on Friday. We know what to expect, simple things like today, we know what to expect. We know our opponent, last year that wasn’t the case.” For the Red Wings,

The Formula to beating the Red Wings

By Paul Ladewski The Stanley Cup is the most difficult prize to capture in professional team sports, many people will tell you, and the Penguins will realize as much in the next few days. Certainly, the Penguins could have hand-picked a lesser opponent then the Detroit Red Wings, the most complete package of talent, experience and cohesiveness in the league. But if the two teams had to meet for the second time in as many years, then the Penguins couldn’t have hoped for a better time to do it. The Red Wings enter the series with health issues, as defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper have been at less than full strength in recent weeks. What’s

Despite being the favorites, Red Wings are being overlooked

There is a strong sense throughout NHL circles that the Pittsburgh Penguins are more equipped to upend the Detroit Red Wings this time around as the two teams will meet for a rematch in the Stanley Cup Finals, Satuday night. Even though the Penguins may be primed to hoist their first Stanley Cup since 1992, the Red Wings should not be overlooked by no means. Why the Red Wings should not be overlooked The Red Wings are the deepest team in the National Hockey. Not only do you have to deal with star forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, & Johan Franzen, you also have to deal with role players Dan Cleary (14pts), Valtteri Filppula (14 pts), Mikael Samuelsson

Media buzz centers around Marian Hossa on eve of Cup Finals

Shero/Crosby: “We’ve Moved On” Detroit — Both teams met the media Friday afternoon on the eve of the Stanley Cup finals and the media buzz centered around Red Wings star forward Marian Hossa who will face his old team in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals. Sidney Crosby on Marian Hossa signing with the Red Wings

Draft Combine: Young shoots for NBA future in backcourt

By Paul Ladewski CHICAGO — In four years at Pitt, Sam Young was almost anything that we wanted to be. There was Sam Young the poet. Sam Young the pianist. Sam Young the bowler. Sam Young the power forward. Sam Young the small forward. And don’t forget Sam Young, UConn-killer. But there’s at least one Sam Young that has rarely been seen before. He’s the version that Young plans to unveil at private workouts in advance of the NBA draft next month, one that he believes will raise some eyebrows along the way. Meet Sam Young, slam-dunkin’ three-point-drainin’, lockdown defendin’ off guard. The majority of NBA draftniks consider Young to be a 6-foot-6 small forward at the next level, but