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Datsyuk helps Babcock win coaching debut with Red Wings

DETROIT -- Pavel Datsyuk gave Mike Babcock a
stress-free debut in "Hockeytown."

Datsyuk scored a goal and assisted on another in the opening
period as the Detroit Red Wings skated to an easy 5-1 triumph
over the St. Louis Blues in the season opener for both teams.

After a tumultuous offseason in which he signed a contract with
a Russian professional club, the 27-year-old Datsyuk returned to
the Red Wings midway through training camp. He got Detroit on
the board early Wednesday, scoring the game's first goal 95
seconds into the opening period.

The Russian All-Star center received a feed from Henrik
Zetterberg in the bottom of the left circle and one-timed the
puck past goaltender Patrick Lalime to give the Red Wings a 1-0
lead.

"It was good for me to play well, but it was more important the
team played well," Datsyuk said.

Detroit doubled the advantage with 12:56 remaining in the
period, when Datsyuk assisted on defenseman Mathieu Schneider's
one-timer from inside the left circle that got by Lalime.

"For Pavel, I think he's still shaking the rust off a little
bit," Red Wings left wing Kirk Maltby said. "I think Pavel's
just going to get better and better as the season goes on."

The two early goals spearheaded the Red Wings to an easy
season-opening victory for Babcock, who was hired in July after
two seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

St. Louis halved the deficit on defenseman Eric Brewer's goal
with 8:44 remaining in the first period, but Detroit scored
three unanswered tallies in the second to win its sixth
consecutive season opener.

Robert Lang netted a power-play tally and rookie Brett Lebda
scored his first career goal for the Red Wings, who killed all

Starting in placed of the injured Chris Osgood, Manny Legace
delivered an outstanding effort, stopping 13 shots. Osgood, who
rejoined the Red Wings after spending parts of three campaigns
with the Islanders and Blues, is sidelined with a groin injury.

The Red Wings have not placed Osgood on the injured reserved
list because he is expected to return before the end of October.
Under the league's new rules, the minimum amount of time a
player can be on IR is 24 days, and a player cannot be listed
before the regular season begins.

Detroit's Brendan Shanahan was involved in a confrontation with
Jamal Mayers in the third period, perhaps setting the tone for
the second game of a home-and-home series Thursday in St. Louis.

Although Mayers landed several punches, he wound up on the ice
first. Shanahan, still standing, drew cheers from the crowd as
he left with a 10-minute misconduct.

"The closest confrontation I've had in the last two weeks was
putting my son to bed," joked Shanahan, the father of twin
2-year-olds. "(It was) nice to jump into the start of the
season."

Tomas Holstrom registered two assists for the Red Wings, who
have won five of their last seven against the Blues.

St. Louis captain Dallas Drake was not pleased with his squad's
performance.

"We refused to shoot the puck, period," Drake said. "Sometimes
you just got to throw it in there."

Patrick Lalime allowed four goals before being replaced by
Reinhard Divis with 7:52 remaining in the second session.

"They have a good team," Lalime said. "But on the other hand,
we showed them too much respect."

The Blues fell to 0-6-2 in their last eight season openers.

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