Penguins grab 1-0 series lead on Hurricanes in Eastern finals

PITTSBURGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes probably expected Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby to make a difference. What they couldn't have anticipated was being beaten by Miroslav Satan and Philippe Boucher.

Satan and Boucher scored their first goals of the playoffs and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury prevented Carolina from getting its offense going, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night.

Game 2 will be Thursday night following the first of as many as three two-day breaks in the drawn-out series.

Malkin had a goal and an assist on a night Crosby, the leading scorer in the playoffs with 22 points, was limited to an assist. Satan and Malkin scored less than 90 seconds apart midway through the first period for the Penguins, who are trying to win back-to-back conference championships for the first time since 1991-92.

Boucher scored what proved to be the decisive goal on a power play at 11:33 of the third, a shot from the left circle that trickled across the goal line before Cam Ward could stop it. Boucher's goal proved significant when Joe Corvo scored with 1:26 left.