Pirate Galaxy » inside.HOUSTON -- Former Houston Ro

PITTSBURGH -- Even as numbers on a roster, the Pittsburgh Penguins power play appears intimidating. At times on the ice, it looks borderline unfair. Start with two NHL MVPs in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Add a future Hall of Famer like Jarome Iginla and a Norris Trophy finalist in defenceman Kris Letang. Throw in a grinder to do the dirty work in Chris Kunitz and the Penguins have a unit thats an electric mix of skill, speed and grit. Give them 2 minutes to work and they can quickly turn a game into a mismatch. Its a lesson the Ottawa Senators painfully learned during a 4-1 loss to the Penguins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday. Despite dictating play at even strength for long stretches, the Senators were practically blown out on the scoreboard after the Penguins went 2 for 3 on the power play and even added a shorthanded goal to seal it in the third period. Pittsburgh made it look easy against the NHLs best penalty killing team. The Senators stopped 88 per cent of the power plays they faced during the regular season, easily tops in the league. All power plays, however, are not created equal. And if the Senators want to even the series in Game 2 on Friday night, they have to either stay out of the penalty box entirely or find a way to stop a unit thats scoring 38 per cent of the time in the playoffs when it goes a man up. The key to Pittsburghs success doesnt rely on Xs and Os as much as remarkable talent that few -- if any -- teams can match. An eye-popping 37 per cent of Penguins power plays in the playoffs have ended with an opponent skating slowly out of the penalty box after the red light behind their goal flicks on. "They have basically five All-Stars on the first (power play) and its tough to chase them and get hits on them when theyre moving the puck properly," Ottawa defenceman Marc Methot said. "Weve got to be better." It might already be too late. The Senators have won just two playoff series in franchise history after dropping the first game, and none since 2003 and have never rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the post-season. Yet Ottawa remains upbeat, pointing to the way it was able to tilt the ice at even strength, peppering Pittsburgh goaltender Tomas Vokoun with 36 shots. A bounce here, a bounce there and a little more production on the power play -- where the Senators were 0 for 6 in the opener -- and Ottawa believes it can head home with things all tied up. "Were a confident group in here," Methot said. "We know we can hang in there with them." And Methot and his teammates insist it wont take a perfect game, just a smarter one. While three penalties is hardly a ton, the Penguins proved in Game 1 that even a single shift with the advantage is enough to take firm control of things. "If we break even on the special teams battle it gives us a good chance to win," Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said. After dealing with some jitters on Tuesday while making its first appearance in the second round of the post-season since making the Stanley Cup finals in 2007, Ottawa believes it has found its legs. The Senators will need them more than ever with burly defenceman Eric Gryba likely out with an upper body injury sustained after a collision with Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik Grybas job was to try and clear space in front of Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson. Without him there will be a little more room for Crosby and company to work. Its a group that is finally starting to get comfortable with each other. Pittsburgh picked up Iginla, forwards Jussi Jokinen and Brenden Morrow and defenceman Doug Murray at the trade deadline to gear up for a Cup run. Yet injuries to Crosby, Malkin, Orpik and defenceman Paul Martin late in the regular season made it difficult for coach Dan Bylsma to get a look at what he really had on his hands. In a way, Bylsma still doesnt know. He continues to tinker with lineups during games, trying to search for the right mix. The Penguins found enough in the first round to dispatch the New York Islanders in six sometimes-frantic games. They may have taken the next step in Game 1, playing more soundly defensively and more patiently offensively in perhaps their most balanced game of the playoffs. Take Pittsburghs third goal of the night, a power play score by Kunitz. Letang found himself working in the left circle and instead of moving to his left instead turned to his right and slipped a pass to Iginla. Kunitz pounced on the rebound and the Penguins had things well in hand. It started with a move Letang doesnt typically make and ended with Pittsburghs ninth power-play goal in seven playoff contests. While the goal was timely, the message it sent, however, was just as important. "When you get that power play ultimately you do want to score," said Iginla, who has two goals and eight assists in the post-season. "But a big part of our focus is to just go out there and get some momentum, get some shots, put some pressure on them." Its working vs. the Senators.China Shoes 2020 . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Cheap Shoes From China . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. https://www.wholesaleshoesusa.com/ . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Fake Shoes 2020 . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside.HOUSTON -- Former Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith has signed a contract to play with the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association, a source told ESPN on Tuesday.Smith played with the L.A. Clippers and Rockets last season. He averaged career lows in points (6.0) and rebounds (3.5) in 55 games.Basketball reporter David Pick, who first reported the news, said that Smiths three-month contract with the Blue Whales is worth $1.dddddddddddd5 million.Smith wasnt invited to any NBA training camps this fall and has elected to play overseas with the goal of returning to the NBA once his season ends in China.Smith, a 14-year veteran, has averaged 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists with four NBA teams over 891 games. ' ' '