Pens come back with a vengeance in Game 4
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Steve Sullivan celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers’ Kimmo Timonen, center, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky during the second period of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the NHL Stanley Cup playoff s Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. On the verge of a sweep, the Penguins rallied with a vengeance to defeat the Flyers, 10-3, and avoid elimination. The series move back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Friday.
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA
Pushed to the brink of a sweep, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal pushed back with a vengeance, helping the Penguins score nine goals in the first two periods in a 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday in their opening-round playoff series.
Staal had a hat trick, Malkin scored his first two goals of the series and Crosby added one to help the Penguins cut the series deficit to 3-1. Game 5 is Friday in Pittsburgh.
Marc-Andre Fleury settled down after a shaky first period and had his best game of the series, easily outplaying counterpart Ilya Bryzgalov.
The Flyers led 3-2 when the Penguins reeled off eight straight goals to win the most lopsided game of the series.
“It was a crazy game in a lot of ways,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “But we got a lot of big saves at key times, and we were able to turn it the other way.”
Claude Giroux, Kimmo Timonen and Jakub Voracek all scored for the Flyers, who blew their chance at a stunning sweep of the Penguins. Bryzgalov, shaky all series, was at his worst in Game 4. He was yanked for Sergei Bobrovsky after allowing his fifth goal of the game.
“We had a task tonight to win one game, and focus only on one game,” Bylsma said. “And we got that win tonight. That’s our focus for the next game, back in Pittsburgh.”
The Penguins were the first team to score at least 10 goals in a playoff game since the Los Angeles Kings scored 12 against the Calgary Flames on April 10, 1990, according to STATS LLC.
“I think just our management of the puck,” Bylsma said, “and where we played it, was good in terms of keeping the flow in our favor.”
There’s little chance of a goalie controversy in Philadelphia. After earning huge cheers for stopping his first shot, Bobrovsky was worse than Bryzgalov, allowing four goals the rest of the second period.
Fleury made it stand the rest of the way and started to make up for a miserable first three games that saw him allow 17 goals.
Then again, Pittsburgh’s offense was so potent, not even Fleury could blow this one.
Long despised in Philadelphia, Crosby scored his second goal of the series on a deflection that tied the game at 3-all in the first. Staal followed with a goal from the slot for a 4-3 lead and the Penguins never looked back.
The Penguins scored four power-play goals.