Penguins get a quick start

The Carolina Hurricanes probably expected Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby to make a difference. What they couldn’t have anticipated was being beaten in such a big game by Miroslav Satan and Philippe Boucher.

Satan and Boucher scored their first goals of the playoffs and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury prevented Carolina from getting its offense going, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night.

Game 2 will be Thursday night.

Malkin and Boucher each had a goal and an assist on a night Crosby, the leading scorer in the playoffs with 22 points, was limited to an assist. Satan and Malkin scored less than 90 seconds apart midway through the first period for the Penguins, who are trying to win consecutive conference championships for the first time since 1991 and 1992.

The Penguins got major contributions from Satan, who fell into such disfavor in March that he was sent to the minors, and Boucher, a defenseman who sat out most of the second half of the season after foot surgery.

“We like to believe we’re deep -- whoever we dress, we’ve got some good players that are not playing right now and everybody can come in and help out. It’s good that we both did it,” said Boucher, who sat out nine of the Penguins’ first 13 playoff games.

Boucher scored what proved to be the decisive goal on a power play at 11 minutes 33 seconds of the third period, a shot from the left circle that trickled across the goal line.

Boucher’s goal was his first in the playoffs since April 12, 2004, and proved significant when Joe Corvo scored for Carolina on a power play with 1:26 remaining.

Eric Staal missed a chance from in close that would have tied it in the final minute.

Fleury made 23 saves and Cam Ward made 28 saves for the Hurricanes.