The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup Final, taking the opening game by a score of 3-1 thanks to some strange bounces. Both Brad Stuart and Johan Franzen were the beneficiaries of a pair of wild caroms off the end boards at Joe Louis Arena, resulting in the first two Detroit goals of the game.
Ruslan Fedotenko was the only Penguins player to score while Wings’ foot soldier Justin Abdelkader had the insurance marker in the third period. The game got a bit chippy when the final buzzer sounded as Sidney Crosby reacted to some trash-talking from Kirk Maltby with an unfriendly slash.
Game Two goes tonight at 8pm on CBC.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gave his ‘state of the union’ address to reporters, insisting that the conflict between him and potential Coyotes owner Jim Balsillie is “nothing personal”.
Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:
Leafs News
- Peter Zezel’s loss will be felt in many corners Toronto Sun
Stanley Cup Final
- Malkin delivers or bust MaxHockey.com
- Round 1 to Red Wings Ottawa Sun
- ‘It’s not personal’ Ottawa Sun
- Chelios keen on T.O.-area team Ottawa Sun
- Red Wings off and flying Toronto Star
- Game helps take focus from NHL’s off-ice woes Toronto Star
- Fleury of misfortune gives Wings win in opener Windsor Star
- Lucky Wings open series with victory Vancouver Sun
- Wings take first game of Stanley Cup The Globe And Mail
NHL and Hockey News
- Mountain men appeal to Matt Toronto Sun
- Duchene moving up Toronto Sun
- Bettman extends olive branch over Coyotes debacle The Globe And Mail
- Bears capture AHL Calder Cup opener CP
- Love of the game keeps Keane playing National Post
