Flyers draw even in Stanley Cup finals

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Mike Richards, Matt Carle and Claude Giroux all scored first-period goals and the Philadelphia Flyers hung on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Friday night to even the Stanley Cup finals at 2-all.

Jeff Carter scored an empty-netter in the final seconds to help the Flyers become the first team this series to win a game by more than one goal.

The Flyers, trying to win their first title since 1975, nearly let the win slip away in the third.

Leading 4-1 early in the period, Chicago’s Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell scored late goals to slice the deficit to one.

The home team has won all four games this series — a factor that certainly favors the Blackhawks in Game 5.

Ville Leino also scored for the Flyers.

After the Blackhawks won a key faceoff, Bolland sent one past Michael Leighton for Chicago’s first power-play goal of the game.

They entered 0 for 6 and went 1 for 3 in Game 4.

The goal energized the Blackhawks. They didn’t look beat down from having to rally and fight the Flyers for most of the first 60 minutes.