Playing a much more disaplined style, the Philadelphia Flyers looked to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, but once again ran into penalty trouble, this time in overtime. The Pens Bill Guerin scored when his team got a 5 on 3 in the extra frame to take a 2-0 lead in their Quarter Final series. The Flyers played better as a team and dominated with a lot of time spent in the Penguins zone, but the Penguinos kept coming. Both netminders, Marc-Andre Fleury and Flyers Martin Biron, could hardly be faulted as even late in the game they both stopped several up-close chances with toe saves.
Compared to the opener, there was almost the complete absence of penalties in regulation time with 3 penalties called on each team and only one power play goal. Pens captain Sidney Crosby and Mike Richards of the Flyers had a running battle all night.
Scott Hartnell of Philadelphia scored the all important opening goal as he beat Fleury with a tip in on Matthew Carle's shot at 13:26 of the 1st period. Bill Guerin tied it up at 16:38 of the 2nd period (with assists to Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby), which re-energized the Penguins faithful who had started to fall quiet for long portions as the Flyers spent all their time in the Pens end of the ice. So, 1-1 after two periods.
Early in the 3rd, Flyers center Darroll Powe scored the first playoff goal of his career at 2:06 and that took a lot out of the Penguins. And like in the Bruins-Habs game last night, the visiting team took a penalty and then Pittsburgh scored their tying goal on the ensuing power play. Engeni Malkin had the shot of Sergi Gonchar deflect off his skate while the big center was parked in front of Biron. That goal tied it up at 2-2 and off they went to overtime.
Penalties In Overtime Down Flyers
Guerin scored the winner late in overtime to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead over the Flyers in the series. It was a nice goal and Guerin's 2nd of the playoffs as Philadelphia had 2 men in the penalty box. Hall Gill, the lanky Pens defenseman was called for cross checking at 15:26 of OT, and the Flyers looked to cash in on their man advantage, but Philly's Mike Knuble was called for cross checking at 16:55 and Claude Giroux for slashing as he slashed the stick of a Penguin who was trailing into the Philadelphia zone on a rush. Then it was a 2-man advantage for the Penguins and Sergi Gonchar found Guerin alone to Biron's right. Guerin slipped a shot past Biron for the game winner. As a side note: Evgeni Malkin with 2 goals and 3 assists leads the playoff scoring race and has been in on 5 of Pittsburgh's 7 goals in the series.
Now off to the confines of Philadelphia where the Flyers will be even tougher.
GAME 3: @Philadelphia, Sun. Apr. 19, 3 pm.
GAME 4: @Philadelphia, Tue. Apr. 21, 7 pm.
*GAME 5: @Pittsburgh, Thu. Apr. 23, 7 pm.
*GAME 6: @Philadelphia, Sat. Apr. 25, 3 pm.
*GAME 7: @Pittsburgh, Mon. Apr. 27, TBD
* if necessary; all times Eastern
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