Staff photo by Chris Seward

• Photo gallery: Penguins 7, Canes 4

 • First Look: See 228 raw images from Game 2 

PITTSBURGH — An empty-netter by center Tyler Kennedy gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 7-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals at Mellon Arena Thursday night.

The Hurricanes, entering the third period down 4-3, tied the game, but the Penguins poured on three goals including the second and third goals from center Evgeni Malkin, who was showered with hats after his no-look backhander late in the third period.

The series turns to Raleigh’s RBC Center for Game 3 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Hurricanes, having lost the first games of both of their first two playoff series, have never gone down 2-0 in these Stanley Cup playoffs.