Pens open Consol Center with win over Red Wings

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Sidney Crosby gave Pittsburgh Penguins fans a goal, an assist and a scare in the first hockey game at Consol Energy Center.

Crosby sat out the third period because of a sore hip flexor and Pittsburgh beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Wednesday night in preseason play.

The injury is not expected to be serious.

“No, not at all,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “Just sore and precautionary, and no need to push it past that.”

Crosby said he would not count himself out to play in the team’s next preseason game, at Columbus on Friday night, should Bylsma elect to dress him.

“I think I just might have tweaked it a bit,” Crosby said. Red Wings power forward Johan Franzen left the game with 1:43 remaining in the first period after sustaining a leg injury on a hit by Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik. Orpik was given a major penalty for kneeing.