Penguins 3, Lightning 0

Alex Kovalev and Arron Asham scored 18 seconds apart early in the third period and Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins posted a 3-0 triumph over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday.

Chris Kunitz added an empty-net goal and defenseman Brooks Orpik notched two assists for the Penguins, who host Game 2 on Friday.

Dwayne Roloson stopped 37 shots for Tampa Bay, which is making its first playoff appearance in four seasons.

Kovalev snapped a scoreless tie at 6:05 of the third, beating Roloson with a wrist shot for his 45th career postseason goal. Asham, who scored four of his seven playoff goals with Philadelphia last season, doubled the lead moments later with a wrister.

Fleury turned aside 14 shots in the first period, seven in the second and 11 in the third en route to his fifth career playoff shutout.
Final1st2nd3rdScore
Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins0033
Tampa Bay LightningLightning0000
* Pittsburgh Leads Series 1 - 0
Season Series
PittsburghStatsTampa Bay
2-2-0Vs2-2-0
17Goals9
13.2Shot %8.7
11.1Power Play %9.5
50.2Faceoff %49.8