The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final with a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, as Mikael Samuelsson scored two goals in Detroit.
Mikael Samuelsson, right, scored two goals for Detroit in their game one win over Pittsburgh
The Red Wings used their experience and tenacious defence to contain the explosive Penguins offense, with Chris Osgood making 19 saves to give Detroit the opening game in the best-of-seven series.
The Wings are aiming to win their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years and first since 2002.
"I thought we were nervous in the opening period but once we got skating and executing things went our way," Mike Babcock, Detroit coach, told reporters.
"When we got the tempo up and started skating we got our chances and made the most of them."
Mikael Samuelsson,
Detroit goal scorer
"I'm lucky to be the one that scored a couple of goals," Samuelsson told reporters.
"The feeling was great for sure."
Early lesson
Pittsburgh out-shot the Wings 12-11 in a scoreless first period, but Detroit took over in the second as they held the high-flying Penguins to just four shots on goal and eventually out-shot Pittsburgh 36-19 overall.
"Definitely, that was our worst performance of the playoffs," Michel Therrien, Pittsburgh coach, said.
|
"We didn't compete the way we we're supposed to compete. It's a good lesson."
Samuelsson opened the scoring at 13:01 of the middle period, skating into the zone from center and slipping a wraparound shot past Marc-Andre Fleury.
He made it 2-0 at 2:16 of the third period, firing a shot from the slot past Fleury to give the Red Wings a handy cushion.
Dan Cleary scored from a backhand at 17:18 and a powerplay marker from Henrik Zetterberg with 12 seconds left completed the scoring.
Game two is on Monday in Detroit.
Tags: Red Wings Stanley Cup