Penguins jump out to fast start to beat NHL 'Canes

Pittsburgh came out with plenty of spark then held on behind Marc-Andre Fleury's 23 saves as the Penguins beat Carolina 3-2 in the opening game of the NHL semi-finals series.

Miroslav Satan, with his first of the playoffs, and Evgeni Malkin scored first period goals for the Penguins who are trying to win back-to-back conference championships for the first time since 1991-92.

"I think we did a good job tonight. We got the first goal," said Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. "You want build on leads and not sit on a one-goal lead."

Philippe Boucher came off the bench to add a third-period goal in the win while the league's top scorer Crosby was held to just one assist.

"It means a lot and builds a lot of confidence for everybody. We need that effort every game," said Crosby, the leading scorer in the playoffs with 22 points.

The players will get a two-day break before resuming their best-of-seven series on Thursday at Pittsburgh's igloo.

Malkin finished with a goal and an assist. Satan and Malkin scored less than 90 seconds apart midway through the first period for the Penguins.

Like Satan, this was the first goal of the playoffs for Boucher, who also added an assist.

"This feels good," Boucher said. "You play for the playoffs. I didn't know I was going to play until the warmup."

Boucher was a healthy scratch for some of the other playoff games.

He also missed 30 games during the regular season after having foot surgery

The 36-year-old veteran defenceman Boucher works hard in practice to keep himself ready when the coach needs him.

"We got some good players who aren't dressed," Boucher said. "We like to believe we have a deep lineup."

Joe Corvo and Chad LaRose scored for Carolina who once again gave up the first goal of the game.

For a lot of the night we were looking for a better option and they did a good job of taking away the shooting lanes," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said.

Carolina star Eric Staal missed a scoring opportunity from the left side of Fleury's crease that would have tied it during the final minute.

"He didn't get good wood on it and it went right back at me. I was a little bit lucky. I will take it," Fleury said.

Canada's Staal is competing against Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal in the first brother against brother matchup in the NHL semi-finals in 35 years. They took the opening faceoff against each other.