San Jose, CA (My Sportsbook) - Kirk Maltby scored two short-handed goals and added an assist as the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings downed the San Jose Sharks, 6-3, in both teams' season openers. Sergei Fedorov added two goals for the Red Wings, who opened the season with a victory for the fourth straight season.

Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom also scored for the Red Wings, who were playing their first game under new head coach Dave Lewis. The longtime assistant coach was hired after the legendary Scotty Bowman announced his retirement.

Detroit was also playing in front of goaltender Curtis Joseph for the first time. Joseph, who turned aside 23 shots in his Red Wings' debut, was acquired in the offseason to replace retired netminder Dominik Hasek.

Vincent Damphousse scored two goals for the Sharks, who are 2-8-2 all-time in season openers. Miika Kiprusoff stopped just 9-of-15 shots before being pulled after two periods. Vesa Toskala turned aside all 12 shots he faced in the final 20 minutes.

The Red Wings took a 2-0 lead in the first period on Maltby's two short-handed goals. The first came at 2:01 when Maltby took advantage of a turnover in San Jose's zone and lifted the puck over Kiprusoff's left shoulder. Maltby then took a pass in the right circle from Kris Draper before firing a shot into the upper left corner of the net.

The Sharks cut the lead to 2-1 on a power-play goal by Damphousse, who slid the rebound of a Mike Ricci shot underneath Joseph.

However, Holmstrom added a power-play tally to give Detroit a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Holmstrom deflected Lidstrom's shot past Kiprusoff for the goal.

Fedorov scored just 30 seconds into the second period to push the Red Wings lead to 4-1. The Russian forward skated into the Sharks zone and beat Kiprusoff with a wrister from the right circle.

Damphousse's second goal made it a 4-2 game at 10:35 of the second period. Owen Nolan held the puck in the right circle and fed a pass across to Damphousse, who beat Joseph from the left side of the crease.

However, Detroit scored the next two goals to grab a 6-2 cushion. Fedorov wristed a shot from the right circle, beating Kiprusoff stick-side. Lidstrom then scored with 2:00 left to give the Red Wings a four-goal lead.

Mike Rathje scored on a one-timer just 29 seconds into the third period to cut the lead to 6-3, but that was as close as San Jose would get.