Red Wings look to be even better

DETROIT – Nicklas Lidstrom is looking for more from the Detroit Red Wings.

Already a three-time Stanley Cup champion, Lidstrom never settles for good enough. Sure the Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, but that doesn’t mean Hockeytown has seen the best from the hometown club.

It’s true that Detroit escaped from the first period with a 0-0 deadlock Saturday night in the series opener. The Penguins came out hard and fast and pressured the Red Wings into taking a handful of penalties. The penalty-killers were OK, goalie Chris Osgood was exceptional again.

Once the Red Wings got into their game over the final 40 minutes, Pittsburgh really never stood a chance. Detroit gave up 12 shots in the first period – including eight during four short-handed situations. After that, the Penguins had to settle for seven shots and one power-play chance while trying to dig out of a hole.

“We were able to take away lanes. They still had some shots though,” said Lidstrom, the favorite to be named the NHL’s top defenseman for a sixth time. “They’re really good at moving the puck around and finding open lanes. Just different options that they have that you have to be aware of.

“You don’t want to put yourself in that position where you have to kill a lot of penalties early on. If they get a goal early, it could be a different game.”

Lidstrom was third on the team in scoring with 70 points in the regular season.

Detroit won at least the first two games in each of its opening three playoff series, and can again take full advantage of starting at home during Game 2 tonight.