Game one: Penguins 3, Lightning 0

The Consol Energy Center's first playoff game was a good one for Penguins fans. If game one is how the rest of the series will be then the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to make an early postseason exit. The Pittsburgh Penguins basically just physically manhandled the Lightning. It wasn't until the third period the first goal was scored by Alexei Kovalev. Aaron Asham scored 18 seconds later after Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson got out of position. Chris Kunitz added an empty net goal to make it 3-0 Pens.

Penguins Alexei Kovalev (Right) and teammates
James Neal (Left) and Mark Letestu (Center)
celebrate Kovalev's goal.  

The story of the game was how well Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played. Anytime there is a shutout one can assume the goalie played well. However, Fleury has been playing the same as he has since about November, insanely good. He, along with their upgraded defense, is the reason the Penguins were able to pile up 106 points in the regular season and earn the fourth seed in the east. If the Penguins were going to do well it almost had to be because of him. The Pens have missed their captain, Sidney Crosby, since early January and all-star center Evgeni Malkin since early February. The Lightning's best opportunity was probably when Fleury stopped Brett Clark's initial shot and Dominic Moore's rebound attempt. It was so good that Moore thought that the puck had gone in. The Bolts Vincent Lecavalier had a golden opportunity early in the second period but Fleury stopped him then also. The Penguins set a physical tone. It was first seen when Brooks Orpik crushed the Lightning's Steven Stamkos into the boards early in the first period. The Lightning's Martin St. Louis got an accidental stick to the mouth from the Pens' Zbynek Michalek as St. Louis was falling. St. Louis was outraged because he felt there should of been a penalty. Afterwards St. Louis would have to get a double root canal after the game to fix his teeth. Dwayne Roloson played pretty good for the Lightning in net, except for the Asham mishap. The Lightning are going to have to play better in game two if they want to advance to the next round. Game two is tonight in Pittsburgh at seven.  

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save on
the Lightning's Vincent Lecavalier.