Detroit,  MI (Sports  Network) - Chris Osgood was solid once again between the pipes, making 31 saves, as Detroit inched a step closer on its long journey to a  second  consecutive title with a  3-1 win over  Pittsburgh in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals from Joe Louis Arena.
   Jonathan   Ericsson,   Valtteri  Filppula  and  Justin  Abdelkader  scored  in succession following a first-period tally from Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin.
   It  was a  similar result  from  the series  opener on  Saturday, when  Osgood also made 31 saves in another 3-1 Detroit win.
   Tomas  Holmstrom  collected two assists for  the Red Wings, who are attempting become  the first club  to repeat as champions since they did it themselves in 1997 and '98.
   Marc-Andre  Fleury allowed three goals on 26 shots for Pittsburgh, which is in familiar  territory after  dropping the first two games of the Cup Finals last year in Detroit as well.
   The Red Wings will try to grab a stranglehold of the best-of-seven set when it shifts to the Steel City for Game 3 on Tuesday.
   Detroit  forward Pavel Datsyuk was absent from the lineup for a fifth straight contest  with a swollen foot. He suffered the injury blocking a shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Blackhawks.






   (Copyright 2005 by The Sports Network)