Crosby, Pens club Flyers
Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins sent a message in their playoff opener.
The Penguins captain got his third career postseason hat trick, Evgeni Malkin added a highlight-reel goal and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions rolled over the Philadelphia Flyers, 7-0, last night in Pittsburgh to take quick control of their first-round series.
Crosby batted a shot out of midair past Philadelphia goalie Brian Elliott in the second period for his first goal, tapped in one from the doorstep against Petr Mrazek 7:41 into the third and then deflected in another just over three minutes later as the Penguins dominated their cross-state rivals from the opening faceoff of Game 1.
Jake Guentzel had a goal and three assists, and Bryan Rust and Carl Hagelin also scored. Matt Murray stopped 24 shots for his third straight playoff shutout.
Game 2 is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.
Elliott stopped 14-of-19 shots and was pulled in favor of Mrazek after Crosby’s latest bit of wizardry pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-0 just 9:01 into the second. Mrazek wasn’t much better, getting beaten by Crosby twice more as Philadelphia’s return to the playoffs after a one-year absence started with a thud.
Jets 3, Wild 2 — Defenseman Joe Morrow broke a tie with 6:13 left and host Winnipeg beat Minnesota in Game 1 for the first playoff victory in franchise history.
In its only other playoff appearances since joining the NHL in 1999 in Atlanta, the franchise was swept in 2007 by the New York Rangers and 2015 by Anaheim.
Nikolaj Ehlers set up the Morrow at the point for a one-timer that beat goalie Devan Dubnyk. Morrow, the former Bruin, was acquired at the trade deadline from Montreal in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick this summer.
Mark Schiefele, with a power-play goal, and Patrik Laine also scored for Winnipeg, and Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves. Matt Cullen and Zach Parise scored for Minnesota, and Dubnyk stopped 37 shots.
Game 2 is tomorrow night in Winnipeg.
Elsewhere in the NHL — The Buffalo Sabres signed two-time Notre Dame leading scorer Andrew Oglevie to a two-year entry level contract.
The 23-year-old led the Irish to the NCAA final with 15 goals and finished second on the team with 39 points last season . ...
The NHL expansion effort in Seattle took another step forward by naming former Seahawks president Tod Leiweke as the president and CEO for the prospective club.