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Pittsburgh Penguins Tyler Kennedy (top) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal against the Ottawa Senators during their NHL season opening game at Globen Arena in Stockholm October 4, 2008. REUTERS/Bob Strong

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 with an overtime goal by forward Tyler Kennedy on the opening day of the season on Saturday.

Kennedy, who also grabbed the opening goal, fired a wrist shot past goaltender Martin Gerber at 4:35 of overtime to hand the Penguins victory in Stockholm.

"I've worked really hard in the summer and built a lot of confidence," Kennedy told reporters.

The last two losing Stanley Cup finalists are playing back-to-back games in the Swedish capital over the weekend as the NHL bids to reach a wider international audience.

Kennedy opened the scoring after 40 seconds by flicking the puck from a tight angle past Gerber.

The first half was dominated by the Penguins but the Senators leveled at 9:13 through Shean Donovan.

SLOPPY PLAY

Forward Evgeni Malkin capitalized on sloppy play by the Senators to restore the lead for the Penguins at 3:18 in the second period.

The Senators, though, hit back when Jason Spezza set up a goal for Dany Heatley before making it 3-2 himself at 17:55.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby then found defenseman Rob Scuderi who made it 3-3 at 3:56 in the third.

"It's tough to lose when you're one goal ahead going into the third period," said Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, the only Swede on the ice.

"We had a five-on-three in the third period where we had the chance to put the game away."

Earlier on Saturday, the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Prague.

The weekend games in Europe follows a successful opening to the season in London last year.

(additional reporting by Oliver Grassman, editing by Tony Jimenez)