Penguins/NHL
Penguins lead series 1-0
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby each had a goal, assist and Marc Andre Fleury made 26 saves as the Penguins got a convincing 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers in the series opener Wednesday night at Mellon Arena.
The Penguins were able to set the tone early and controlled the play throughout, as the Flyers became frustrated very early in the game.
Undisciplined penalties followed the Flyers all night, and the Penguins converted on their first power play, on a goal from Sidney Crosby at 4:41 of the first period.
“One of the goals was to set the tone in the game and we did that in the first,” Dan Bylsma said.
After hearing all week how it was going to be much different series from the Flyers end, five minutes into the game, it looked like the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals all over again.
Tyler Kennedy put the Penguins up 2-0 at 1:39 of the second period, converting a 2-on-1 with Matt Cooke, beating Flyers goaltender Marty Biron.
Jordan Staal assisted on the goal. Kennedy, Staal combined for 9 shots on goal and created a number of scoring chances.
Advancing past the first round will depend on the Penguins big three (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury) and the Penguins got big nights from all three.
The Penguins kept pouring it on in the third as Evgeni Malkin scored a backhand goal at 6:28 of the third period, to push the Penguins lead to 3-0.
Two minutes and 59 seconds later, Mark Eaton scored his first career playoff goal with a slapshot from the point. Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby assisted on Eaton’s third period tally.
Flyers winger Simone Gagne ended Marc Andre Fleury’s shutout bid at 15:27 of the third period, scoring a power play goal
In the final four minutes of the game, the Flyers accumulated 28 penalty minutes.
Penguins forward Bill Guerin and Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn each got 5 minute fighting majors. Scott Hartnell led the Flyers with 16 penalty minutes on the night.
The Penguins outshot the Flyers 33-27 and turnovers were the story of the game for Flyers who had 6 giveaways compared to the Penguins 1.
Forwards Miroslav Satan, Eric Godard and defenseman Philippe Boucher were healthy scratches for the Penguins.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance
Game 2 is Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Record Ratings for Penguins Regular Season on FSN
FSN Pittsburgh, the exclusive rights-holder for Pittsburgh Penguins regional telecasts, concluded the Penguins 2008-09 regular season with record high ratings averaging a 6.9. FSN Live Penguins Post-Game, presented by Skarkist, also recorded record high ratings averaging 2.5. FSN Pittsburgh led all FSN regional sports networks in NHL game ratings for both the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 regular seasons
105.9 WXDX/Pittsburgh Penguins Extend Broadcast Agreement
WXDX-FM (105.9 the X) and the Pittsburgh Penguins are announcing they have agreed on a contract extension for the X to broadcast all Penguins games on the radio. The extension which takes effect in the Fall of 2009 is for 6 years and will take 105.9 the X into the new “Consol Energy Center.”
