Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh leads series, 3-0
Evgeni Malkin (2goals, 1 assist) and Sidney Crosby (1goal, 1 assist) combined for 5 pts and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 Saturday night at the RBC Center to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead on two goals from Evgeni Malkin (12) and one from Sidney Crosby(14) as the Penguins never trailed after the first period.
Just as in game 2, the Hurricanes had no answers in game 3 on how to slow down the games top duo.
Crosby and Malkin have combined for 11 points in their past two games and Malkin recorded his 6th consecutive multi-point game in the playoffs, Saturday night.
The Hurricanes inability to shutdown Crosby, Malkin has been the difference in the series.
“They’ve been probably the difference in this series, so far,” Canes forward Jussi Jokinen said. “We just have to find ways to keep them off the scoresheet. And if you’re letting seven or six goals, you can’t win hockey games. That’s the bottom line.”
Malkin has 16 points in his last 6 games and leads all playoff scorers with 28 points.
Teammate Sidney Crosby is twp points behind Malkin with 26 points.
Up 3-2 in the third period, Ruslan Fedotenko (5) scored at 11:29 of the third period to push the Penguins lead to 4-2.
Fedotenko blistered a shot past Cam Ward from the slot and Fedotenko has a shot that scouts believe he should use more.
Craig Adams (2) added an empty net goal as the Penguins took a commanding 5-2 lead and Bill Guerin (7) scored at 18:52 to push the Penguins lead to 6-2.
Only two teams, the 1975 Islanders (vs. Penguins) and the 1942 Maple Leafs (vs. Red Wings), have come back from 3-0 deficits to win the series.
Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin and Craig Adams each had a goal and an assist.
Chris Kunitz added two assists and has 5 points in his last 2 games.
Marc Andre Fleury made 32 saves to record his 11th victory of the post-season.
Game 4 is Tuesday night.
