Pens 4, Sens 0

Vindication.

Vindication for last seasons slow start in game 1 where the Senators were able to assert their will on the Penguins.

Vindication for the last year of the so-called experts asking if the young Pens are experienced enough to win in the playoffs.

Vindication for Michel Therrien who has been questioned by the same experts on his ability to prepare his team for a playoff game.

Last nights game can probably be best described as a near mirror image of last years game 1 against the Senators. The only difference was which team was more ready to take the ice and put fourth the effort required to win the game. Instead of that team being the Ottawa Senators it was the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens controlled the tempo of the game from the first faceoff until the final buzzer sounded.

The game could not have started out better. Gary Roberts put the first shot of the game past a shaky Martin Gerber at 1:08 into the game. The Pens second goal was scored on a breakaway by Petr Sykora. The game remained at 2-0 until Evgeni Malkin fired his first career playoff goal past Gerber at 13:58 of the third and Roberts put the game out of reach with his second of the game with only 1:35 remaining on the clock.

Pittsburgh's penalty killing was spectacular holding the Sens to 0 for 7 on the power play including two extended 5 on 3's. The Pens were 1 for 5 (20%) with the man advantage.

Marc Andre Fluery stopped all 26 Ottawa shots to earn his first career playoff shutout. Fleury was named the #1 NHL star of the night for his effort. My first star of the game goes to Gary Roberts. He had the game winner with his first goal but that is not the reason I am going with him. It's the fact that he was a force that Ottawa could not counter. He knew what his role in the game was and, not only went out on the ice and performed that role, he did it with AUTHORITY!

Injury Update - Senator Anton Volchenkov took a Malkin slapshot to the forehead midway through the second and did not return to the game. His injury was described as a horrible pressure laceration but there were no broken bones. Volchenkov is expected to return for game 2.

Next Game - Game 2 of the series will be tomorrow night at 7pm from Mellon Arena. FSN(HD), WXDX or listen here.