Penguins vs Flyers play has tilted decisively in Philadelphia's favor after two strong wins from the Flyers in Pittsburgh and a follow up victory at home, giving the Flyers a 3 0 lead in the first round.
In Pittsburgh the Flyers won 3 0 as goalie Dan Vladar stopped 27 shots to record his first career playoff shutout, while Porter Martone and Garnet Hathaway scored in the second period and Luke Glendening added an empty net goal late to seal the game.
The series then shifted to the Flyers home rink where Philadelphia won 5 2, with Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler scoring three second period goals in a six minute span to overturn an early Penguins lead established by Evgeni Malkin on the power play.
Implications And Key Moments
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet credited a physical push from his lines that calmed the team and ignited the crowd, saying the fourth line hits relaxed the roster and helped swing momentum toward Philadelphia.
Dan Vladar has been a major reason for the Flyers advantage, stopping 72 of 76 shots through three games for a .947 save percentage and surviving a frightening third period moment when he was attended to by trainer Tommy Alva after contact in the crease.
The Penguins have managed just four goals in three games, with Stuart Skinner offering solid goaltending but Pittsburgh failing to convert regular scoring chances, including several power play opportunities that could not beat Vladar.
Discipline and officiating played a role as well, with an embellishment call against Sidney Crosby generating controversy after Garnet Hathaway's high stick incident led to a penalty, and Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse strongly disputing that decision postgame.
Philadelphia also got contributions across the lineup as Noah Cates added an insurance goal, and Noah Juulsen, Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier each finished with two assists in the home win.
