Vokoun to start in net in Game 1 against Ottawa

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins are sticking with goaltender Tomas Vokoun for Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against Ottawa on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Vokoun replaced struggling starter Marc-Andre Fleury and won Games 5 and 6 of Pittsburgh's first-round playoff series with the New York Islanders last week. He stopped 66 of the 69 shots he faced against the Islanders as the Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in three years.

“It's great to be starting, obviously,” Vokoun said. “I wasn't sure after the game if they were going to come back to Marc-Andre (Fleury) or not. I'm trying to not get too caught up in that stuff. If coach tells me I'm playing, I'm playing. If coach tells me I'm not playing, I'll try to help the team in other ways.”

The start will be the 713th of Vokoun's career but his first this deep in the playoffs. He went 1-0 against the Senators this year, allowing just one goal in a 3-1 Pittsburgh victory last month.

“I'm just trying to not get too excited about stuff,” he said. “I'm excited, but the only thing that matter is getting the win. I'm trying to stay on an even keel.”

WPXI