Detroit, MI (My Sportsbook) - Johan Franzen netted the game-winner late in the second period, as the Red Wings resumed their quest for consecutive titles with a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals from a jam- packed Joe Louis Arena.

Brad Stuart opened the scoring and Justin Abdelkader provided an insurance tally for Detroit, which dispatched a youthful Blackhawks squad in five games in the Western Conference finals.

Chris Osgood made 31 saves for his 13th win of the playoffs.

While Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk remained sidelined with a swollen foot suffered in Game 2 of the West finals against Chicago, six-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman and Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom returned from a two-game absence with a lower-body injury.

Ruslan Fedotenko lit the lamp for the Penguins, who swept Carolina in the Eastern final. Marc-Andre Fleury was beaten three times on 30 shots in defeat.

Detroit and the Penguins are battling to lay claim to hockey's silver prize for the second straight year, the first repeat matchup since the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers clashed in 1983 and '84.

Pittsburgh is looking to apply the painful lessons learned from last year's six-game loss to Detroit, while the Red Wings are vying to become the first club to repeat as champions since they did it themselves in 1997 and '98.

Detroit will host Game 2 on Sunday night.