Penguins 5 – Flyers 1

(PIT LEADS SERIES, 2-1)

Brian Elliott turned back into Brian Elliott and the Pittsburgh Penguins are now up 2-1 in the series.

Matt Murray stopped 26 of 27 shots, while Sidney Crosby was doing Sidney Crosby things again with a goal, 3 assists in a 5-1 Penguins win.

The brilliance of Sidney Crosby and Matt Murray might have won the series in the first period.

Philadelphia came out of the gates with a major surge, dominating play but Murray shut the door on every opportunity highlighted by a breakaway save on Nolan Patrick.

After one period the Flyers had a 29-12 edge in shot attempts, 19-3 edge in scoring chances and 10-1 advantage in high danger chances, yet Murray and Crosby were the story after 20 minutes as Murray turned aside all 11 shots and Sidney Crosby scored a wrap-around goal at 10:25 of the first period on the Penguins third shot of the game.

The Flyers may nab another game from the Penguins this series but Philadelphia winning three out of four just isn’t going to happen.

The first period of Game 3 just seemed like the Flyers season and Pittsburgh showed their championship prowess in being able to weather the storm as the Flyers unraveled in the second period as Philadelphia took six minor penalties in the first 30 minutes of play.

Derick Brassard scored his first of the playoffs, a power play marker 2:48 into the second period that looked to have taken the life out of the Flyers.

Minutes later the Penguins would then tie a record for the fastest two goals in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.

On a 4-on-3 power play, Evgeni Malkin scored a one-timer goal to make it 3-0 at 6:48 of the second period. On the ensuing face-off, Sidney Crosby knocked the puck between the skates of Flyers captain Claude Giroux, gained the offensive zone and found a streaking Brian Dumoulin down the left side who beat Brian Elliott 5-hole to make it 4-0 Penguins.

Game over.

MORE BUZZ

— Adjustments from Game 2 to Game 3:

Pittsburgh had a shot mentality on the power play, going 3 of 7, while the Penguins on the PK were 6-for-6.

Pittsburgh got power play goals from Brassard, Malkin and Justin Schultz and the shot presence from the top opened up things in the middle of slot.

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