Game 3 of the NHL's Eastern Conference finals could not end soon enough for the Penguins.
They were badly outplayed from start to finish in a 5-1 loss to the Senators on Wednesday. The Senators now lead the best-of-seven series two games to one.
SN GAME CENTER: Penguins-Senators Game 3 stats
Ottawa's Mike Hoffman scored just 48 seconds into the game and the Senators poured it on from there. Hoffman's goal was the first of an outburst that set a franchise playoff record for the fastest three goals (2:18).
Marc Methot, Derek Brassard and Zack Smith also scored in the first period. Smith's goal forced Penguins coach Mike Sullivan to pull goaltender Marc-André Fleury from the game and insert backup Matt Murray. The Senators scored the four goals on just nine shots with Fleury in net.
Fleury's poor play Wednesday raises a question: Should Murray start Game 4 Friday?
Fleury did not look sharp, but he has played too well this postseason for the team to bail on him now. Plus, what happened Wednesday shouldn't fall solely on Fleury.
The first two goals he gave up were bad bounces. On Hoffman's goal, the puck took a bad bounce off the end boards and confused Fleury. On Methot's goal that made it 2-0, the puck deflected off Ian Cole's skate and went in.
Brassard received a backdoor pass alone in front and tapped it in to make it 3-0. By the time Smith undressed Fleury and scored a wraparound goal to make it 4-0, it was obvious Sullivan had to do something to stop the bleeding.
Murray stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief. Kyle Turris' goal early in the third period was his only blemish.
On the flip side, Senators goaltender Craig Anderson was terrific again. Anderson made 25 saves, and has now stopped 78 of 81 shots in the series. Sidney Crosby's garbage time goal robbed him of a much-deserved shutout.
The Penguins played without defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Bryan Rust, who were both injured in Game 2. Forward Patric Hornqvist did not play, either; however, Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley (lower body) was in the lineup for the first time since Game 5 of the Round 2 series against the Capitals.
MORE: Phil Kessel's wrister lifts Penguins to Game 2 win
For the latest NHL scores, check out SN's live scoreboard or click the game link below for full team and player stats from the NHL playoffs. Also, scroll down for highlights from Wednesday's game.
NHL playoffs 2017: Penguins vs. Senators; Eastern Conference finals Game 3 highlights
Senators 5, Penguins 1
GOAL! Sidney Crosby puts Pittsburgh on the board. Senators lead 5-1.
End of the second period: Ottawa leads Pittsburgh, 5-0. The Sens have just a 22-20 advantage in shots on goal, but it's apparent that Pittsburgh is having an extremely off night. Sloppy play on both ends of the ice. This one is over through 40 minutes.
GOAL! Kyle Turris scores late in the second period. Ottawa is up 5-0.
End of the first period: Yikes. A nightmarish start for the Penguins. The Senators leads 4-0 on just nine shots.
GOAL! Zack Smith scores on a wraparound to put Ottawa up 4-0. Penguins goaltender Marc-André Fleury is being pulled. Matt Murray coming in.
GOAL! Derek Brassard scores for the Sens to make it three goals in just 2:18.
GOAL! Marc Methot makes 2-0, Sens.
GOAL! Well, that was fast. Mike Hoffman scores 48 seconds into the opening period to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.