Penguins/NHL
Penguins lead series, 3-1
Marc Andre Fleury made 45 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 Tuesday night at the Wachovia Center, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Fleury was spectacular from the drop of the puck as the Penguins were outshot 46-26 and for the second time in three games, Fleury stole a game from the Flyers.
“If your going to have success in the playoffs, you have to have performances like that from your goaltender‚Äù, Dan Bylsma said, regarding Fleury‚Äôs performance in game 4.
Sidney Crosby broke the game open at 3:19 of the second period, scoring his 2nd goal of the playoffs to put the Penguins up 1-0.
Crosby drove to the net and deflected a Chris Kunitz pass into the net, while he slid into the goal. The play was reviewed but the Penguins were awarded the goal
The Penguins struck again, minutes later as Tyler Kennedy scored his second goal of the playoffs at 7:41 of the second period to put the Penguins up 2-0.
A two goal lead was all the goaltender Marc Andre Fleury needed to preserve the Penguins lead. Fleury put aside 18 of 19 third period shots from Flyers, including a number of big saves on the penalty kill.
The Flyers were 0-for-8 on the power play
With just under nine minutes remaining in the third period, the Flyers got within one goal, as Daniel Carcillo scored his first career playoff goal, but the Flyers couldn’t solve Marc Andre Fleury after that.
Max Talbot sealed the Penguins win with an empty net goal at 19:08 of the third period.
Matt Cooke added two assists, while Evgeni Malkin’s three game point streak was snapped.
Flyers goaltender Martin Biron made 23 saves in the loss
*Flyers head coach John Stevens questioned Sidney Crosby’s second period goal, indicating Martin Biron was not given a chance to make a save, as Crosby went into him.
Game 5 is Thursday at Mellon Arena
