FLYERS 8, PENGUINS 5: Claude Giroux collected three goals and three assists for a franchise-record six points and rookie Sean Couturier also netted a hat trick as visiting Philadelphia outslugged Pittsburgh to seize a 2-0 lead in its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Jaromir Jagr scored to snap a tie midway into the third period and fellow former Penguin Max Talbot added a shorthanded marker for the Flyers, who have won all 17 previous series in their history when holding a 2-0 lead.
Philadelphia hosts Game 3 on Sunday.
With the game tied at 5-5, Jagr collected a rebound off defenseman Pavel Kubina's point shot. The veteran fended off Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy and wristed a shot which beat Marc-Andre Fleury at 9:13 of the third period for his 78th career postseason goal.
Couturier capped his hat trick after converting a 2-on-1 rush with 1:49 left and Giroux completed his three-goal night by scoring into the empty net in the waning moments of the contest.
Ilya Bryzgalov overcame a shaky start to stop 23 shots.
Chris Kunitz scored twice, captain Sidney Crosby collected a goal and an assist and defenseman Paul Martin and Tyler Kennedy also tallied for the Penguins.
After Kennedy gave Pittsburgh a 5-4 edge just 1:06 into the third, Couturier answered just 17 seconds later after taking advantage of Lovejoy's turnover before tucking the puck past Fleury.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Keith Primeau netted the last Flyers postseason hat trick, doing so against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2004 ... Crosby's quick strike tied a franchise record to start a postseason game, set by Greg Malone in 1981. His 32nd career goal tied Hall of Famer Ron Francis for fourth place all-time in Penguins history. ... Pittsburgh has dropped five straight postseason games at Consol Energy Center, dating back to last year's conference quarterfinal series against Tampa Bay. ... The Penguins have outscored Philadelphia by a 6-1 margin in the first period of this series.
Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | |
Claude Giroux 6 | Points | Chris Kunitz 2 |
Claude Giroux 3 | Goals | Chris Kunitz 2 |
Claude Giroux 3 | Assists | Pascal Dupuis 2 |
Claude Giroux 1 | Power Play Goals | Chris Kunitz 2 |
Claude Giroux 1 | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Ilya Bryzgalov .821 | Save Percentage | Marc-Andre Fleury .767 |
Ilya Bryzgalov 23 | Saves | Marc-Andre Fleury 23 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Philadelphia | 31 | 8 | 1-2 | 2-4 | 10 | 35 |
Pittsburgh | 28 | 5 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 6 | 42 |