Depleted by injuries and only three days since winning the Western Conference title, the Red Wings held-off a younger Pittsburgh Penguins team in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday night.

Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Chris Osgood made 31 saves, to help the defending champions beat the Penguins 3-1 off a couple of lucky bounces.

Two of Detroit’s three goals came on caroms off the end boards.

“It’s kind of tough,” said Penguins net-minder Marc-Andre Fleury. “Guy shoots and it misses the net, and it comes back pretty quick.”

In a decision that Commissioner Gary Bettman thinks will spark some excitement in the series, the teams will meet again tonight in Game 2 of the best of seven series.

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