The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Stanley Cup playoffs roundup
• Sidney Crosby had his third career postseason hat trick, Evgeni Malkin added a highlight-reel goal and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins opened the playoffs with a 7-0 victory over the visiting Flyers. Crosby batted a shot out of the air and past 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. Jake Guentzel had a goal and three assists for Pittsburgh. Bryan Rust and Carl Hagelin also scored. Matt Murray stopped 24 shots for his third straight playoff shutout. Game 2 is Friday 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. • Defenseman Joe Morrow broke a tie with 6:13 left and host Winnipeg beat The Flyers’ Scott Laughton (21) can’t get off a shot in front of Penguins goaltender Matt Murray with Derick Brassard defending during the first period April 11 in Pittsburgh. Minnesota, 3-2, in Game 1 Nikolaj Ehlers set up the power-play goal, and Patrik for the first playoff victory in Morrow at the point for a Laine also scored for Winnipeg, franchise history. one-timer that beat goalie and Connor Hellebuyck In its only other playoff Devan Dubnyk. Morrow made 18 saves. Matt Cullen appearances since joining was acquired at the trade and Zach Parise scored for the NHL in 1999 in Atlanta, deadline from Montreal in Minnesota, and Dubnyk the franchise was swept in exchange for a fourth-round stopped 37 shots. 2007 by the New York Rangers draft pick this summer. Game 2 is Friday night in and 2015 by Anaheim. Mark Schiefele, with a Winnipeg.