Puck Podcast

DETROIT – There is no sense of panic in these Pittsburgh Penguins.They may have lost the first game of the Stanley Cup final to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, but they came away from it feeling certain that they can compete with the defending champions

DETROIT – A report card look at Game 1 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup final between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night:FORWARDSPenguins, B-minus: The Penguins dynamic duo each had their share of chances, but Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin couldn’t solve Chris Osgood

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 – Mario Lemieux can achieve another first in these NHL finals, the first former player – and Hall of Famer – to also win the Stanley Cup as an owner

DETROIT – Red Wings rookie defenceman Jonathan Ericsson went from the operating room to the Stanley Cup finals ice in just three days.Ericsson skated for about 10 minutes Wednesday morning to prepare for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, but abdominal pain cut that session short

DETROIT – Gary Bettman doesn’t have to look very far to find some evidence that the Phoenix Coyotes situation can be turned around.The NHL commissioner noted during his annual address before the Stanley Cup final that both the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were once struggling franchises

DETROIT – Star forward Pavel Datsyuk and veteran Kris Draper will not be in the lineup Saturday night when the defending-champion Detroit Red Wings take on Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final

DETROIT – 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 defenceman (and wearer of the red-and-white No

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueFLORIDA PANTHERS-Signed G Alexander Salak.

CHICAGO – Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon is wasting little time in trying to keep the team together after a strong run in the post-season

DETROIT – It’s been quite a ride for Dan Bylsma.When the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing in last year’s Stanley Cup final, the 38-year-old was working as an assistant coach with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

DETROIT – Just how hurt the Detroit Red Wings are is up in the air as they prepare to defend the Stanley Cup against the same opponent they met in last year’s final – the Pittsburgh Penguins

DETROIT – Marian Hossa is about to find out if he made the right choice.The flashy winger left all kinds of money on the table last summer when he turned down a contract offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins because he believed the Detroit Red Wings gave him a better shot at winning the Stanley Cup

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Hundreds of mourners packed a Toronto-area church Friday for the funeral service of former NHL player Peter Zezel.Zezel, who played several seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, died Tuesday at the age of 44 after suffering from a rare blood disorder for the last 10 years

DETROIT – Injured veterans Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper were back on the ice as the Detroit Red Wings skated on Friday to prepare for the Stanley Cup final

HAMILTON, Ont. – Jim Balsillie has unveiled his vision for a revamped Copps Coliseum, the Hamilton arena he hopes will become the new home of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueMONTREAL CANADIENS-Signed F Mikael Johansson to a one-year contract.

A memorable hockey name is coming around again.Defenceman Brock Beukeboom was one of 40 players invited Thursday by Hockey Canada to try out for Canada’s under-18 men’s hockey team this summer

MONTREAL – A lawyer for hockey great Guy Lafleur says his client will appeal his conviction on a charge of giving contradictory testimony.Gilles Ouimet says a motion to appeal was filed in court this week