Hockey : NHL 2008/2009

Pittsburgh Penguins captured the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 win over the Red Wings in Game 7 and became the first road club to win in this series and avenged last year's painful six-game loss to Detroit in the final round. Pittsburgh claimed its third championship in team history and first since taking back-to-back titles in 1991 and '92 when the team was captained by current owner Mario Lemieux.

Pittsburgh also became just the third road team to win a Game 7 in the Cup Finals. Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma became the 14th rookie head coach and just the second hired in the middle of the season to win a championship. Bylsma took over behind the bench after the Penguins dismissed Michel Therrien on February 15th.

Forward Petr Sykora could miss Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals with a right foot injury sustained during his first playing time in more than a month. Sykora apparently was hurt while blocking a shot Tuesday during the second period of Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory in Game 6 against Detroit. The Penguins did not comment about Sykora's status.

Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said "he'll play," when asked Friday if he expected Pavel Datsyuk to be in Game 5. Datsyuk could give Detroit a much-needed boost in all phases of the game, but it's difficult to imagine him being sharp after not playing for two-plus weeks.

Pavel Datsyuk did not play in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, missing his sixth straight game because of a foot injury. The MVP finalist participated in the morning skate Thursday, but he was scratched from the lineup. Datsyuk last played May 19, when he blocked a shot with his foot against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Detroit coach Mike Babcock inserted Kris Draper into the lineup and took out Justin Abdelkader, who scored in the first two games.

Rookie defenseman Jonathan Ericsson went from the operating room to the Stanley Cup finals ice in a span of three days. Ericsson skated for about 10 minutes Wednesday to prepare for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, but only hours later he was in surgery to have his appendix removed. The good news for the Detroit Red Wings is also they're getting back defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom for the Stanley Cup finals opener. But the team again will be without injured forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Detroit Red Wings expect star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lidstrom was forced to miss two games with a lower-body injury. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the team won't know until Saturday, when the series starts, if MVP finalist Pavel Datsyuk and Jonathan Ericsson will be available. Kris Draper is doubtful for Game 1.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne had successful surgery on Thursday to repair damage in his right hip. Dr. Thomas Byrd performed the surgery in Nashville to remove a bone spur and adhesions which had built up in the area. The 29-year-old posted 34 goals and 74 points in 79 regular-season games for the Flyers in 2008-09, adding three goals and one assist in six playoff contests. Gagne will begin rehab Friday and is expected to be fully recovered in four- to-six weeks.

Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk were held out of practice the day before Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Coach Mike Babcock said the stars are feeling better, but the Red Wings will wait until both get a chance to skate before Wednesday's game to decide whether they will play against the Chicago Blackhawks. Lidstrom missed Game 4 with an undisclosed injury and Datsyuk has been out the past two games with an injured foot.

Right wing Martin Havlat and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin have skipped the team's practice but were set to make the trip to Detroit for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said both would be evaluated after Wednesday morning's pre-game skate.

Forward Tuomo Ruutu returned to the lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh. The Carolina Hurricanes forward missed Game 2 because of a lower-body injury sustained in the series opener. Ruutu tested himself by skating Saturday morning, but coach Paul Maurice had said the team wouldn't decide Ruutu's status until game time Saturday night to make sure he didn't have swelling.