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(Sports Network) - The top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins will try to get off to a strong start in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as they host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 at CONSOL Energy Center this evening. Get interactive with our Game Night Blog in the Game Tracker at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Although the Penguins cruised to the top spot in the East with a 36-12-0 record in the regular season, the Senators enter this best-of-seven series as an extremely dangerous seventh seed. Ottawa is coming off beating second- seeded Montreal in five games during the opening round and Paul MacLeans squad is eyeing another upset in Round 2. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, received a tougher than expected test from the eighth- seeded New York Islanders in the conference quarterfinals. The Penguins posted two shutouts against the Isles, but also surrendered 17 goals over the remaining four games. After outlasting the Isles in six games, the Pens find themselves in the second round for the first time since 2010, the year after Pittsburgh claimed its third Stanley Cup title. The club may have suffered a third straight first-round exit if it wasnt for a goaltender change during the conference quarters. The Pens were tied at two games apiece with the pesky Isles when head coach Dan Bylsma decided to replace Marc-Andre Fleury with veteran goaltender Tomas Vokoun. After posting a shutout in Game 1, Fleury struggled mightily and allowed 14 goals over the next three games. Vokoun, who hadnt seen action in the playoffs since 2007 before this spring, recorded a shutout victory in Game 5 and then kept Pittsburgh in the game long enough to win the series in overtime of Game 6. All told, the 36-year-old stopped 66-of-69 shots in two outings for a .957 save percentage and 1.41 goals against average. Although Fleury was the No. 1 goaltender when Pittsburgh made consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 and 09, the 28-year-old has not fared well in recent postseasons. In his first three playoffs, a run that culminated with the 2009 Stanley Cup crown, Fleury was 31-18 with a 2.45 GAA and .915 save percentage. In four playoff years since then, he is just 14-16 with a 3.15 GAA and .881 save percentage. Not surprisingly, Bylsma is sticking with Vokoun, who is 5-8 with a 2.30 GAA in 13 career playoff games. The Czech will start Game 1, while Fleury begins the second round on the bench. "Whatever happens, its all about the team," said Fleury. "Ive been a part of this team for a long time and I want this team to do good. This organization has been great. So if Im in the net or on the bench, I want this team to win. Thats the bottom line." Scoring is never a problem for the Penguins, who led all teams with 25 goals in the opening round. However, Pittsburgh has surrendered a whopping 47 goals over 12 playoffs games in the last two seasons, an average of 3.92 goals per contest. Evgeni Malkin led all Pittsburgh players with 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in six games against the Isles, while Pascal Dupuis paced the club with five goals. Captain Sidney Crosby missed the first game of the playoffs due to a fractured jaw that caused him to sit out all of April, but he still managed to finish second on the Pens with nine points (3G, 6A) in five games against New York. All told, the Pens had seven players register two goals or more in the opening round. That is, of course, a testament to Pittsburghs tremendous scoring depth up front, but defensemen Kris Letang and Douglas Murray also managed to chip in two goals apiece. Jarome Iginla, one of a handful of marquee names acquired by Pittsburgh at this years trade deadline, recorded two goals and seven assists in the opening round. Brenden Morrow, the former Dallas captain, was another player added during this season, but he managed just one assist against the Isles and was a minus-3 in six games. Pittsburghs power play is extremely dangerous and the Pens managed to score on one-third (7-of-21) of their chances in the opening round. They also finished the regular season with the second-best power-play numbers in the NHL, but Ottawa had the leagues top PK in 2013. Ottawa finished fourth in the Northeast Division this season -- seven points behind the Canadiens -- but there was no question who was the better team in the conference quarterfinals. The Sens outscored the Habs by a combined score of 20-9, posting a pair of 6-1 victories to help make quick work of the division champions. The Senators may have been seeded higher if not for losing over 200 man-games to injury this season, including absences by some big names. At this stage, however, all the key names are back healthy except top centerman Jason Spezza, and even he could be back sometime in the second round. Ottawas most important player, defenseman Erik Karlsson, sat out 31 games during the regular season due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered when Pittsburghs Matt Cooke stepped on his leg during a Feb. 13 meeting. The injury was originally expected to end Karlssons season, but last years Norris Trophy winner came back in late April and he tied for the team lead with six points in the opening round. Karlsson had one goal and five assists against Montreal, tying him with captain and fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson, who had two goals and four assists. Playing behind Karlsson and the D-men is goaltender Craig Anderson. The 31- year-old was a leading Vezina candidate in the early going this season before missing over a month of the season from Feb. 23-April 2 due to an ankle injury. Anderson went 12-9-2 with a 1.69 GAA and .941 save percentage in 24 games during the regular season and his first-round numbers were stingy as well. The American netminder stopped 171-of-180 shots in five games against the Canadiens, posting a 1.80 GAA and .950 save percentage. For his career, Anderson is 9-9 with a 2.16 GAA and .938 save percentage in 18 playoff games. Ottawas scoring depth could get a big boost if Spezza is able to return in this series. He recently participated in a full practice for the first time since undergoing back surgery. Spezza hasnt played since the fifth game of the season, but he is a proven playoff performer and could be ready to go as early as Game 3. The 29-year-old center has 51 points (17G, 34A) over 53 career postseason games. Ottawa scored on 24 percent of its power-play opportunities (6-of-25) in the first round after tying for 20th in the league on the man advantage during the regular season. After finishing first in the NHL during the regular season with an 88-percent penalty kill rate, Ottawa stopped Montreal from scoring on 16-of-19 chances (84.2 percent) in the first round. This series pits the leagues best offense against the second-ranked defense, as Pittsburgh led the NHL with 3.38 goals per game in 2013 and Ottawa was second in defense with an average of 2.08 goals surrendered each tilt. The Penguins won all three meetings with Ottawa during the regular season. Fleury was 2-0 in those games and Vokoun also posted a victory for Pittsburgh. Anderson started all three tilts for Ottawa and was 0-2-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .909 save percentage. Ottawa was able to slow down the Penguins power play, however, as Pittsburgh scored once on 15 chances with the man advantage over the three meetings. This will be the fourth all-time playoff series between the clubs. Ottawa won the first encounter in the 2007 conference quarterfinals, before Pittsburgh ousted the Sens from the first round in 2008 and 2010. Game 2 of this series is scheduled for Friday in Pittsburgh. Nike Air Max 90 Rabatt . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Nike Air Max 98 Rea . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-720-rabatt.html . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Nike Air Max 2020 Rea . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Beställa Nike Air Max . LOUIS -- St. The Latest on the seventh week of the NFL season (all times Eastern):9:56 p.m.The Arizona Cardinals lead the Seattle Seahawks 3-0 after a defensive-dominated first half in the desert.Seattles Bobby Wagner has the highlight of the night so far with a leaping block of Matt Catanzaros 39-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.Lining up about 5 yards deep, the 245-pound linebacker cleared Arizonas offensive line and had a clear shot at Catanzaros kick. Wagner would have called a penalty had he run into Arizonas Aaron Brewer, but only clipped the long snapper with his cleat.Cardinals coach Bruce Arians tried to get the officials to review the play, but it is not reviewable under NFL rules, and Arizona lost a timeout to the botched challenge.Catanzaro later hit a 46-yarder for the only points.---6:18 p.m.Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman hurt his hamstring in the third quarter and was listed as questionable to return.Coleman -- who splits carries with starter Devonta Freeman -- ran eight times for 64 yards and a touchdown against San Diego before getting hurt.---4:46 p.m.Chargers defensive tackle Caraun Reid was carted off the field Sunday with a left knee injury and listed as questionable to return.Reid was injured midway through the first quarter when his teammate, linebacker Denzel Perryman, dove down and accidentally trapped Reids left leg under the weight of his body. Both players were defending a catch by Atlanta tight end Levine Toilolo.Reid, the No. 3 defensive tackle behind Corey Liuget and Brandon Mebane, lay on the turf for several minutes before getting helped to the cart.---4:02 p.m.Five San Diego players raised their clinched right fists as their protest during the national anthem before Sundays game at the Atlanta Falcons.Standing together on the San Diego sideline, offensive linemen D.J. Fluker, Chris Hairston and Joe Barksdale and linebacker Joshua Perry held up their fists as they stood. Also, offensive tackle Tyreek Burwell, inactive and not in uniform, also raised his fist as part of the Chargers protest.There were no protests from Falcons players.- Charles Odum reporting from Atlanta.---4:03 p.m.Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid and Eli Harold once again kneeled during the national anthem before San Franciscos game against Tampa Bay.Among the 49ers players to raise fists during the anthem were defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Rashard Robinson, Keith Reaser, Dontae Johnson and Jaquiski Tartt.No Tampa Bay players protested.- Josh Dubow reporting from Santa Clara, Calif.--3:30 p.m.Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has another record to his credit.Vinatieri kicked two field goals Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, extending his streak without a miss to 43 consecutive field goals for an NFL record. He tied former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt (42 made between 2002 and 2004) with a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter.Then Vinatieri took the record to himself with a 33-yarder with 3:46 left in the third quarter, which gave Indianapolis a 20-13 lead.- Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee---3:10 p.m.Bills running back LeSean McCoy left the game at Miami in the third quarter after aggravating left hamstring injury.McCoy, ranked second in the NFL in rushing, had been questionable after hurting himself in practice Wednesday. He started the game but totaled only 11 yards in eight carries before departing.- Steven Wine reporting from Miami---2:48 p.m.Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion and appeared to injure his left shoulder.Norman landed hard as Marvin Jones caught a 52-yard pass for the Detroit Lions. Norman lay on the turf before walking off the field very slowly and being carted to the locker room.Also in the game, Detroit cornerback Darius Slay was listed as questionable with hamstring injury in the second quarter. He was replaced by Johnson Bademosi.Slay, Detroits best player in the secondary, made a victory-sealing interception two weeks ago against Philadelphia.- Larry Lage reporting from Detroit.---2:15 p.m.Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a block that injured Bills safety Aaron Williams in the second quarter.Williams suffered a head and neck injury when Landry hit him high, leading with his shoulder. Williams remained on his back for a couple of minutes before he slowly rose and was led to the locker room.As Williams left the field, Landry walked over to him, said something and appeared chastened. The penalty was declined because Bills instead accepted an unrelated penalty on the Dolphins.Landry was penalized earlier in the game for unsportsmanlike conduct for taunting.Williams missed most of last season when he underwentt neck surgery following an injury that threatened his career.dddddddddddd-Steven Wine reporting from Miami---2:17 p.m.Its Fitz Magic time again for the New York Jets.Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced an injured Geno Smith with 4:34 left in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. Smith injured his right knee while taking a sack from Baltimores Matthew Judon, was taken to the locker room and listed as out for the game after returning to the sideline in street clothes.Smith took over as the Jets starter in place of Fitzpatrick, who had started the first six games but had thrown an NFL-leading 11 interceptions and just five touchdowns.Smith got New York on the board when he tossed a short pass to Quincy Enunwa, who motored down the left sideline and outran two Ravens for a 69-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7. An excited Smith ran all the way down the field to celebrate as fireworks went off.New York also lost center Nick Mangold to an injured right ankle in the first quarter, and linebacker Bruce Carter injured a quadriceps in the second quarter.- Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey---2:10 p.m.Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against the Vikings, the first time in team history theyve had a kick return for a score in consecutive games.Wendell Smallwood returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD in last weeks 27-20 loss at Washington. Huff had a 107-yard TD return as a rookie in 2014.- Rob Maaddi reporting from Philadelphia---1:55 p.m.Browns quarterback Cody Kessler is out and will not return to the game against Cincinnati after suffering a concussion.He was hit hard while throwing a shovel pass on a scramble. He was replaced by rookie Kevin Hogan from Stanford.Kessler was 9 of 11 for 82 yards while leading Cleveland to a 10-7 lead over state rival Cincinnati.- Joe Kay reporting from Cincinnati---1:45 p.m.The Tennessee Titans already have lost right guard Chance Warmack to injured reserve, and now left guard Quinton Spain has been carted off the field.Spain went down during an incomplete pass by Marcus Mariota with 14:23 left in the second quarter. Trainers and a doctor examined his right knee, then put him on a cart to take him to the locker room. An undrafted free agent last year out of West Virginia, Spain worked his way into the starting spot at left guard late last season and kept that job this season.He was replaced in the lineup by Brian Schwenke.- Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee---1:45 p.m.Eagles cornerback Ron Brooks was carted off the field after suffering a right knee injury late while making a tackle in the first quarter. Brooks stayed down on the ground for a few minutes and appeared to be in pain while trainers worked on his leg. He was immediately ruled out.Earlier in the quarter, Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo injured his ankle and was questionable to return.- Rob Maaddi reporting from Philadelphia---11:15 a.m.Lawrence Brownlee was chosen by the New York Jets to sing the national anthem before their game against the Baltimore Ravens, but the operatic tenor faced a difficult decision.In a statement Sunday morning, he said he found himself being torn in two different directions. As the son of a veteran, Brownlee wrote, he was honored to be given the opportunity to sing the anthem -- as he has before.I am grateful for the fact I have far more opportunities to succeed today as a man of color than my ancestors who were alive when the anthem was written, he said.He added, however, that he cannot ignore how protests around the national anthem have escalated as of late. My fellow Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother Colin Kaepernick began the movement by silently protesting the anthem in hopes that the public discourse regarding race relations, police brutality and misconduct toward people of color would change.Brownlee said the San Francisco quarterbacks decision is an act of protest which I agree with and support wholeheartedly. The opera star said hes hopeful people are gradually moving toward equality in all areas, and asked himself whether he would sing the anthem before the game or stand in silent solidarity.In the end, I decided to use the voice that God has given me to sing, Brownlee wrote, to sing with the conflicting emotions that pull at my heart ... the honor, the pride, the frustration, the sadness ... Colin Kaepernicks message, the hope of my ancestors, and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives protecting our flag.And I will keep on singing until I can no longer do so.- Dennis Waszak Jr. reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey. 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