Penguins get going in third• PITTSBURGH 3, TAMPA BAY 0: Alex Kovalev and Arron Asham scored third-period goals 18 seconds apart, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots to lead the fourth-seeded Penguins to victory over the Lightning in their playoff opener. Chris Kunitz sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute in the Penguins' first postseason game in their new arena. Brooks Orpik had two assists and opened the game with a heavy and clean check on Lightning star Steven Stamkos. The fifth-seeded Lightning were held scoreless following a regular season in which they finished second in the Eastern Conference with 247 goals.
• DETROIT 4, PHOENIX 2: Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen scored midway through the second period to put the Red Wings ahead in their series with the Coyotes. Brian Rafalski and Jiri Hudler padded Detroit's lead late in the second period and early in the third in Detroit. Jimmy Howard made 26 saves for the third-seeded Red Wings, who killed off four penalties in the first period. Kyle Turris scored 2:16 in to his playoff debut to give Phoenix an early 1-0 lead.
NOTES
• Philadelphia defenseman Chris Pronger is a gameday decision for Game 1 Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Flyers captain Mike Richards also skipped practice the day before the postseason opener. The Flyers say they gave Richards a "maintenance" day off Wednesday. Asked why Richards was not at practice, coach Peter Laviolette said all injuries and status updates come from General Manager Paul Holmgren. Laviolette hesitated when asked whether Richards would play the opener, then referred the question to Holmgren. Holmgren later said all players aside from Pronger are healthy. Pronger, a former NHL MVP, has been sidelined since hand surgery in March.
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