PITTSBURGH - The Ottawa Senators know there is little margin for error if they want to upset the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If they don’t slow down Pittsburgh’s potent power play, they’ll have a difficult time against Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Penguins.
Paul Martin and Chris Kunitz scored power-play goals and Pascal Dupuis added his sixth goal of the playoffs Tuesday as the Penguins beat the Senators 4-1 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“We know it’s a good start, but it’s just like the rest of the playoffs we know it’s just the start,” Pittsburgh forward Jarome Iginla said.
Evgeni Malkin extended his points streak to seven games with a goal and an assist for the Penguins while Tomas Vokoun stopped 35 shots to win his third consecutive game since replacing struggling starter Marc-Andre Fleury.
Colin Greening scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson made 26 saves, but Ottawa had no answer for Pittsburgh’s power play.
“Their power play is good,” Anderson said. “We knew that going in, and if we want to have good chance to win a game we’re going to have to shoot down their special teams. It’s huge for them. If we’re able to kill those off, it’sa different game.”
The Senators had the NHL’s best penalty kill during the regular season and turned aside 16 of 19 penalties against Montreal in the first round. Yet they couldn’t stop the Penguins from going 2 for 4 on the power play to improve to 9 of 24 with the man advantage in the playoffs, the best of the eight teams remaining.
“This power play that they have with all those players, they’re dangerous,” Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot said. “Whether we’ve got to play with more discipline, whatever that is, whatever the answer is it’s something we have to focus in on.”
Better hurry up. Game 2 is Friday night and the Penguins appear to be hitting their stride after needing six games to get by the New York Islanders in the opening round.
KINGS 2, SHARKS 0
LOS ANGELES - Jonathan Quick made 35 saves in his sixth career playoff shutout, and the Los Angeles Kings opened their second-round series with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Slava Voynov and Mike Richards each had a goal and an assist in the defending Stanley Cup champions’ 11th consecutive victory at the Staples Center since March.
Playoffs glance TUESDAY’S GAMES All times Central Pittsburgh 4, Ottawa 1
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0 Los Angeles 2, San Jose 0
Los Angeles leads series 1-0 TODAY’S GAME All times Central Detroit at Chicago, 7 p.m.
First game of series
Sports, Pages 23 on 05/15/2013