"This year it's been a process. It didn't happen overnight," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "We've been a good team, and I think an elite team for the last three years.  And we were finally able to get it done."

Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg, who scored the game-winning goal Wednesday night and also had an assist, took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs.

"It feels pretty good," said Zetterberg. "It's been a long season.  Especially in the last few nights ago in Joe Louis Arena was devastating.  And found a way to battle back.  And it's just a great feeling right now."

Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom became the first European captain to lead a team to the Stanley Cup.

"It's something I'm very proud of," said Lidstrom. "I've been over here for a long time.  And I watched Steve Yzerman hoist it for three times in the past, and I'm very proud of being the first European.  I'm very proud of being a captain of the Red Wings."

The Penguins, who trailed 3-1 late in the game, made it interesting late when Marian Hossa scored a power play goal with 1:27 remaining to make it a 3-2 game. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby got off a shot that Detroit goalie Chris Osgood knocked away with just one second remaining.

"I knew it was a good backhander.  I tried to get as far out as I could, and it ended up hitting my arm," said Osgood.  "I think time had ran out before it started rolling over the side of the net.  I was happy to see the ref yell time was up when I looked up."

The Penguins, who were dominated in the first two games of the series, bounced back in the last four games and pushed the Wings hard until the very end.

Detroit took the early lead with a power play goal at 5:03 of the first period. Zetterberg made a nice backhand pass to Brian Rafalski, who scored from the left faceoff circle.

The Penguins had a chance to draw even later in the period with a five-on-three power play that lasted 1:33, but couldn't cash in on the opportunity.

The Red Wings extended the lead to 2-0 at 8:07 of the second when Valtteri Filppula scored off the rebound of a Mikael Samuelsson shot.

The Penguins finally got on the scoreboard at 15:26 off the second when Evgeni Malkin scored his first goal of the series at 15:26 of the second period with Pittsburgh on the power play.

But Zetterberg scored what proved to be the game-winner at 7:36 of the third period when his wrist shot trickled through the legs of Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and the puck then went into the net when the Pittsburgh goalie fell on it.

• Red Wings score on first power play chance to take a 1-0 lead in first period.
• Later in first period Penguins miss on a five-on-three chance that lasts for 1:33.
• Valtteri Filppula scores off rebound to make it a 2-0 game in second period.
• With the score 2-1 in the third period, a Henrik Zetterberg shots slips through the legs of Marc-Andre Fleury and then the puck goes into the net when Fleury falls on it, giving Detroit a 3-1 lead.

• The Red Wings now have 11 Stanley Cups, which ranks third among NHL teams. Montreal is first with 24 and Toronto is second with 14. 
   
• Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg (13 goals, 14 assists) and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (6 goals, 21 assists) were tied for the playoffs points lead with 27.
   
• Zetterberg and teammate Johan Franzen lead the playoffs in goal scoring with 13 each.
   
• Crosby led the playoffs in assists with 21. Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall was second with 15.
   
• Detroit's Chris Osgood finished the playoffs with a 14-4 record, 1.55 goals against average and .930 save percentage. His goals against was the best in the playoffs and his save percentage ranked second to Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's .933.