DETROIT RED WINGS HOCKEY

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AP PhotoOttawa Senators goalie Martin Gerber, right, looks to the ice as the Detroit Red Wings celebrate Valtteri Filppula's first-period goal Saturday night.

OTTAWA -- The Detroit Red Wings were a different team Saturday than they were in their regular season opener two nights earlier.

They skated better, generated more scoring chances and committed fewer turnovers. For awhile, though, it appeared as if the result would be the same. Then Johan Franzen came to the rescue.

Franzen, picking up where he left off last season, scored two goals in the final 8:44 of the third period, including the game-winner with 1:17 remaining, to lift the Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.

DETROIT -- After his Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils were honored during a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden in 2003, Brian Rafalski recalled the invitation the team received from President George W. Bush.

"He said, 'You guys want to come in?'" Rafalski said.

Bush gave them a personal tour of the Oval Office.

President George W. Bush will honor the Red Wings during a ceremony in the East Room of The White House on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The Wings play at Carolina on Monday and have two days off before their next game, Thursday at home vs. Vancouver.

"I'm glad it's this week, too. Let's get all (the celebrations for winning the Stanley Cup) done and let's get on with it,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "It's a thrill. You get to meet the President of the United States, that's a fantastic thing and a great honor for our team. You want to relish in all the things you've done.''

AP PhotoThe Red Wings' 2007-2008 championship banner is raised prior to the their season-opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

STORIES

• Red Wings start slow, lose season opener

• Newcomer Hossa adjusts to Red Wings linemates

• Holland: No decision on McCarty, yet

COLUMNS

• Zuidema: Opening loss a minor hiccup in Red Wings' season

MULTIMEDIA & MORE

• Photos: Detroit season opener

• Video: Banner-raising ceremony

• Audio: Babcock, Chelios on WDFN

• Live blog recap | Box score

AP PhotoDetroit's Kirk Maltby reacts on the ice after being hit by a Brad Stuart slapshot against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period.

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock sounded an alarm the day before. He was concerned the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony might affect his team's focus. He just wanted to drop the puck.

But after his team dropped the ball in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in the regular- season opener at Joe Louis Arena, Babcock wasn't about to conveniently blame the lackluster effort on any 15-minute program.

AP PhotoThe Detroit Red Wings raised another Stanley Cup banner before their season opener Thursday against Toronto.

DETROIT -- Have you heard? The Detroit Red Wings apparently are supposed to be pretty good this season.

Moments after the Red Wings' 2008 Stanley Cup championship banner was raised during a pregame ceremony -- complete with red-carpet entrances, the Wayne State Symphony Orchestra performing "We Are The Champions" and appearances from retired players Dallas Drake and Dominik Hasek, who flew all the way from the Czech Republic to take part -- fans, pundits and other hockey insiders immediately set their sights on an encore performance one year from now.

DETROIT -- For the first time since his preseason debut with the Detroit Red Wings 15 days earlier, Marian Hossa got a chance to play with both of his new linemates, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, Thursday in the regular season opener.

The rust and the unfamiliarity was evident early, as that line and the team struggled. But Hossa was encouraged by what he saw from his line in the latter half of the 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena.

DETROIT -- As the Detroit Red Wings kick off the defense of the Stanley Cup, Michael Zuidema will be there live tonight from Joe Louis Arena to comment on all the action.

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Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and defenceman Chris Chelios spoke to WDFN's Bob Wojnowski and Art Regner this afternoon, with Babcock addressing the necessity that the Red Wings both enjoy the banner-raising ceremony and be totally prepared to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs once that banner hits the rafters...