Success comes as surprise

It's not the usual stars who are leading the Penguins.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- What's surprising about the Pittsburgh Penguins' early success in the playoffs is who is contributing.
In Game 3, Mario Lemieux was shut out, limiting him to three first-period shots.
New to team: Stepping up were left winger Kevin Stevens, defenseman Marc Bergevin, center Wayne Primeau and goalie Johan Hedberg. None of those four were with the team when the season began last October.
Stevens' goal halfway through the game put the Penguins ahead 1-0.
Stevens, who celebrated his 36th birthday Sunday, is playing on the team's third line with Primeau and Alexei Morozov.
"I like playing there -- it's been fun," said Stevens, who returned to Pittsburgh after being acquired from Philadelphia.
"We play well together and when we can chip in and help out, it's great. Primeau has been a great acquisition for us."
He's back: Stevens, who played on Pittsburgh's two Stanley Cup championship teams a decade ago, said the game has changed.
"We don't need to score a bunch of goals to win," he said. "Everyone questions us defensively, but if we battle hard and play the type of defense we're playing, we'll see what happens.
"We've got three lines clicking, we've got three lines working hard. We're not scoring a ton of goals, but we're working hard and sooner or later, the goals will go in."
Bergevin, acquired from St. Louis on Dec. 28, is 36-years old and in his 18th NHL season.
"We know [the series is] far from over," said Bergevin. "We expect a battle and a long series.
"In the playoffs you have to play good defense. I knew we were capable of doing it. Our coaching staff made a point before the [New] Jersey game [on March 25] and it's carried over."
Good goalie: Another key has been the superb play of Hedberg, who made his NHL debut after he was acquired from the San Jose Sharks on March 13.
Despite going 7-1-1 down the stretch, Hedberg says he hasn't accomplished anything yet.
"I've got things to prove all the time, we haven't done anything yet."
Hedberg admitted he showed little emotion after his 34-save shutout. "We need to keep our emotions under control. We haven't won the Stanley Cup or anything. Wednesday, we've got another game and we've got to be sharp."
Primeau, who came to the Penguins from Tampa Bay in a February trade, said Hedberg reminded him of former Buffalo Sabres teammate Dominik Hasek.
"[Hedberg is] quick, he reads the plays very well and he gets his body in front of the shots," Primeau said. "It's early in his career, but the way he's playing is great.
"He's sacrificing his body every chance he gets. He's doing a great job of making things happen for us."