Pens Overcome Slow Start, Bounce Flyers For 2nd Straight Year

Through nearly the entire first period the score remained 0-0. Things were looking more and more like they did in Game 5, which Philly won 3-0, as the Flyers lit the lamp twice in 51 seconds at the end of the first period. Philly added a 3rd goal early in the second period and the roof on the Wachovia Center was nearly blown off. After the ensuing face off, Max Talbot got into it with Daniel Carcillo, seemingly sparking the Pens bench into action. Seconds later Evgeni Malkin made a great move to the net to get a shot off with Ruslan Fedotenko following up to bury the rebound.

Less than two minutes later a streaking Mark Eaton was able to sneak one past Marty Biron to cut the lead to one. Things quieted down a little bit before at just around the 3 minute mark Bill Guerin carried the pick through the neutral zone down the left side and backhanded a shot towards the net. Biron was unable to secure the bouncing puck as it hit off his glove and an opportunistic Sidney Crosby was able to bat the puck out of the air to square things up at 3 a piece. The Pens had won the 2nd period and clearly stole the moment.

Just over 2 minutes into the 3rd period Evgeni Malkin left a pass for Sergei Gonchar who lasered one over the right shoulder of Biron. The Pens had stole the lead from Philly and wouldn't give it back. Penguin goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was able to bounce back from a rocky start making several brilliant saves to keep the Pens on top. As the desperate Flyers pulled the goalie with time dwindling it was a turnover by Flyer Jeff Carter to Crosby who took the deflected pass towards the empty net. After being initially caught and shooting off the side of the net, Crosby was able to regain control of the puck and wrap around to deliver the final blow to the Flyers.

After all series the Philadelphia fans chanted "Crosby sucks" it was only fitting for him to put the final nail in the coffin. The Penguins win the series 4-2; ousting Philly for the second consecutive year. With the Rangers-Capitals and Hurricanes-Devils series still in the balance it remains unclear who Pittsburgh will face in the 2nd round. Regardless of who the Pens meet it definitely looks like they're on the same mission as last year when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals.