Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh leads series, 3-2
Marty Biron made 28 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers got timely goals and defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Thursday night at Mellon Arena to force a game 6 on Saturday.
The Penguins jumped on the Flyers early out shooting the Flyers 15-5 in the first period but were unable to get one past Martin Biron who played his best game of the series.
The Flyers made adjustments in the final two periods, being aggressive at the blueline and playing stifling defense, limiting the Penguins to 13 shots over the course of the second and third period.
The Flyers role players came through just as they did in game 3. Aaron Asham got the Flyers on the board first, scoring his first goal of the playoffs at 6:32 of the second period to put the Flyers up 1-0.
Matched up against the Penguins first line, the Flyers fourth line won out, converting on a Bill Guerin errand pass.
The Flyers took advantage of another Penguins mistake just minutes into the third period as the Penguins had three defenseman on the ice following a penalty.
Philippe Boucher threw a puck around the left boards that was intercepted and Claude Giroux made the Penguins pay, beating Marc Andre Fleury to put the Flyers up 2-0 at 3:35 of the third period.
Pittsburgh only managed 8 shots in the third period and came up empty on the power play.
The Penguins were 0-for-4 on the night and are now 0-for-9 on the power play in their last two games.
Mike Knuble pushed the Flyers lead to 3-0, scoring his first goal of the playoffs at 13:12 of the third period
Pittsburgh outshot the Flyers 28-26 and outhit the Flyers 33-23. Brooks Orpik had a game high 9 hits.
Pertr Sykora (6 pts in his last 29 games) was a healthy scratch for the first time this season and was replaced in the lineup by Miroslav Satan.
Kris Letang and Eric Godard were also healthy scratches.
Satan started the game on the Penguins 4th line but ended the game taking some shifts with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Game 6 is Saturday
