CBC-Sports

It's business as usual for Penguins

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 02:16 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

Most of Pittsburgh’s big-minute players – guys like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar, among others – didn’t go on the ice for an optional game-day skate at Joe Louis Arena Sunday morning.

Instead, they rode stationary bikes, kicked a soccer ball around in a corridor outside the dressing room or, in the case of defenceman Kris Letang, stickhandled a tennis ball through the locker room.

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Status quo for Wings' lineup heading into Game 2

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 01:39 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

It will be status quo for the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup as they prepare for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final Sunday at Joe Louis Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“We’re not going have anyone enter tonight,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said, meaning injured centres Pavel Datsyuk (foot) and Kris Draper (groin) will sit for another game.

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Penguins ill-prepared for lively boards

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 02:10 AM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

The Pittsburgh Penguins talked before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final about how lively the boards at Joe Louis Arena are.

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Abdelkader the latest example of Wings' singular depth

Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 01:05 AM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

The Pittsburgh Penguins held a board meeting Saturday morning, but it didn’t appear to help.

The Penguins worked during the game-day skate prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final on the nuances of the lively back boards at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, but when the game started, the Wings worked those same boards for the decisive goals in a 3-1 victory.

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Wings' depth will be tested in Game 1

Saturday, May 30, 2009 | 02:12 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

Known for being deep down the middle, the Detroit Red Wings will find that depth severely tested as they open the Stanley Cup final Saturday at Joe Louis Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Wings will be without two of their regular centres. Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk has been ruled out with the foot injury, while a groin strain will keep checking centre Kris Draper on the sidelines.

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Last year's wounds still run deep

Saturday, May 30, 2009 | 01:46 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

Nearly 12 months have passed since Detroit beat the Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup final in six games, but the Penguins haven’t forgotten.

Odds are, they never will.

Not without a lot of intense therapy, anyway.

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Wounded Wings getting healthier

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 06:45 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

The big news Friday on the eve of the Stanley Cup final was who was on the ice for the Detroit Red Wings as they held the final day of practice in preparation for Saturday night’s opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Penguins not sweating Hossa's choice

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 12:59 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

Pittsburgh left-winger Ruslan Fedotenko, who missed Thursday’s practice because of illness, rejoined the Penguins for their workout at Mellon Arena before a flight to Detroit Friday afternoon.

He got through the practice with no apparent problem and then pronounced himself ready to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.

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Red Wings' depth makes the difference

Thursday, May 28, 2009 | 12:42 AM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

The depth of the Detroit Red Wings put the defending champions back in the Stanley Cup final.

Minus six-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom for the second straight game and Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk for the third time, the Wings still posted a 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena to finish off the Western Conference final in five games.

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Stars out for Game 5; Hawk netminders must step up

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 02:29 PM ET | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks will play Game 5 of the Western Conference final Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena without key components.

The Red Wings, up 3-1 in the series, will try to close out the Blackhawks without defenceman and Norris Trophy finalist Nicklas Lidstrom (lower-body injury) and centre and Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk (foot injury).

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2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Blog Archives »