In return, Hossa stings Pittsburgh

The booing, the chanting, the taunting. Marian Hossa heard it all before quieting Pittsburgh's fans by doing what he did so often for the Penguins during last season's playoffs: scoring an important goal.

Pavel Datsyuk scored twice, Hossa got the pivotal second goal midway through the third period, and Ty Conklin (25 saves) shut out his former teammates, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-0 victory yesterday in their first visit to Pittsburgh since winning the Stanley Cup there last June.

Datsyuk's power-play goal at 10:08 of the second period came after the Penguins squandered three opportunities with the man advantage in the first. Datsyuk added his 22d goal of the season with 2:12 remaining, after Hossa's 30th goal 6 1/2 minutes earlier all but sealed the Red Wings' fourth consecutive win.

Hossa, who angered Penguins fans by turning down an estimated $40 million more from Pittsburgh in an extended contract to sign a one-year deal with Detroit, skated down the right wing boards before changing directions. Shedding forward Jordan Staal, Hossa got off a backhander from the slot that eluded goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Hossa was booed loudly whenever he stepped on the ice during the first two periods, and some in the sellout crowd of 17,132 chanted, "Traitor, traitor."

Hossa, who quickly became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh after being acquired at the trading deadline last year, used the fan reaction as motivation. Hossa was a key player during the Penguins' Stanley Cup run with 12 goals and 14 assists in 20 games.

"These are great hockey fans, and they show you their emotions," Hossa said. "Once or twice in your career you've got these games, so basically you try to enjoy it because this doesn't happen often. You try to use their energy to your advantage."

Stars 4, Predators 1 - Brian Sutherby scored a shorthanded goal, Brad Richards had a power-play goal and an assist, and Dallas ended Nashville's four-game winning streak while improving to 11-1-1 in its last 13 at home.

Flyers 3, Thrashers 2 - Jeff Carter scored twice and visiting Philadelphia beat Atlanta for the 14th straight time.

Wild 3, Oilers 2 - Mikko Koivu's shootout goal lifted Minnesota to its ninth straight win over Edmonton in games played in St. Paul.