Nhl, Pittsburgh Penguins | featured news

Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Chris Osgood made 31 saves, helping the defending champion Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL went against its previous plan, pushing up the start of the Stanley Cup finals to avoid a long layoff. The league announced Wednesday night that Detroit will host Pittsburgh on Saturday night in Game 1 of the first championship rematch in 25 years. Last week, the NHL said the finals would begin June 5 if both conference finals were not decided by Tuesday.

A classic series and a promising season come to a deflating end for the Capitals, who are shoved into a 5-0 hole by Pittsburgh before losing, 6-2.

The Washington Capitals came to Pittsburgh with a two-games-to-none lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals and a chance bury some demons that have haunted the franchise for the better part of two decades.

The Penguins's 3-2 victory is their first of the series and cuts the Capitals' lead to two games to one. Washington had won five games in a row. Game 4 is in Pittsburgh Friday.

Key saves by rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov help Washington to 3-2 victory over Penguins.

The Penguins eliminated the Flyers with a 5-3 victory Saturday in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has left practice early because of a sore groin, but is listed as probable for Wednesday night's home game against the New York Islanders.