Box score
Game summary
Event summary
Play-by-play
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Hossa into the empty net.
Good night, good hockey.
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Richards hits the post.
Six minutes to go.
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Killer goal at 9:58 for the Pens. Killer turnover, again, for Steve Downie, just like in Game 2. Trying to throw a cross-ice pass in the offensive end, the puck was picked off by Malkin and the Pens came in on a rush. Ryan Malone ended up scoring the goal to make it 3-1.
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It is getting a little bit interesting. The Penguins seem to be caught up a little bit in their passivity, and the Flyers are pressing them a little bit. It isn't overwhelming or anything, but it is there. Carter is having a good game but he can't convert a chance. The Flyers find themselves right in this thing, at least for now, with 13 minutes to go.
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At the end of the second period, it's still 2-1. The shots are also in favor of the Penguins, 17-8. The Flyers had only three shots on goal in the second period. They are in the odd position of probably having more scoring chances than they have shots on goal. They have been pretty close to scoring a few times here but haven't been able to finish. Again, though, you really kind of get the impression that the Pens figure they can open up their game and score again if they need to score again. Until then, they are playing a pretty buttoned-up style.
A tying goal, of course, would entirely change the emotional dynamic in the building. But, short of that, the Penguins seem pretty content to play it safely and patiently.
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Carter has had a couple of good chances this period, without scoring. But you watch the Pens and it's funny -- it's as if they think they have scored enough. They're kind of trapping, just sitting back, not really forechecking a ton, not forcing anything.
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Scott Hartnell is hurt after burying one of the Penguins into the glass behind Fleury. He is on the bench, doubled-over in pain. But, after a minute or 2, it looks as if he might be OK. And he's out for the next shift.
The Flyers have had a few chances here, but they're trading a bit with the Pens. It is exciting, but dangerous.
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Mike Richards, shorthanded, in alone, threatening to add to the storybook of his series -- but Sergei Gonchar made a great dive in which he got the puck with his stick, and then tripped Richards simultaneously. No goal, no penalty, good decision by referee Bill McCreary. Richards ended up crashing into Fleury.
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With the Pens caught in a line change, Jeff Carter had a great chance in the slot, on the rush, that Fleury managed to save. And, a few seconds later, Scottie Upshall was whistled for tripping Malkin, sticking out his leg. It erased any stirrings of momentum that the Flyers had generated.
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Kind of a nothing second period so far. After 6 1/2 minutes, the Pens have 3 shots and the Flyers have 1.
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First period ends a 2-1, Pens. Shots are in favor of the Pens, too, 8-5.
It is clear which is the better team. But the Flyers are competitive, and they have gotten a little more traffic in front of Pens goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury than they did in the first two games. They still haven't possessed the puck enough in the offensive end, but they are not out of this game. But that's about all you can say.
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Pens coach Michel Therrien had Crosby and Malkin out for one shift together so far. It was scary enough that you wonder why he doesn't do it more often.
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Well, there's some life.
After a 4-on-3 power play where Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul missed glorious chances, RJ Umberger has cut it to 2-1, scoring on a rebound of a failed wraparound by Prospal. Time of the goal was 10:59.
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Uh, oh. Marian Hossa fires from about 35 feet out, and Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen might or might not have screened Marty Biron, but the puck got by on the stick side and it's now 2-0 and they haven't yet played 8 minutes. Repeat, underlined: uh, oh.
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First test: Derian Hatcher for hooking Evgeni Malkin at 3:33.
First failed test: A Ryan Whitney centering pass appeared to deflect off of Jason Smith and into the Flyers' net. It's 1-0, Pens.
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After a moving tribute to slain police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski and the playing of God Bless America, we begin. Loudly.
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f the starting lineups are any indication, Stevens wants to get the Briere line out against the Penguins' third line, centered by Jordan Staal.
And, as he said this morning, Stevens has started out by pairing Parent with captain Jason Smith.
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A half-hour before game time, we haven't yet seen the lineups -- but at the skate this morning, Flyers coach John Stevens said there would be no changes other than Ryan Parent replacing the injured Braydon Coburn on defense.
As for his line combinations, Stevens showed nothing different at the skate. Whether or not that holds up this evening is anybody's guess. But the initial supposition is that he is going to give Danny Briere, Vinny Prospal and Scott Hartnell one more chance to leave an imprint on this series. So far, they have been silent.
Stevens said, "To me, it's in the hands of the players right now...I would expect a big game out of that line tonight."
But if the team starts slowly, a shakeup remains what might be the last card Stevens can play. We'll see.
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (37)
See ya next year! Great season, thanks for the thrills!
Posted by Bernie Parent | May 13, 2008 7:58 PM
i figured i'd comment on your blog since i obviously can't play hockey anymore. i stink.
Posted by jason smith | May 13, 2008 8:03 PM
Great updates! Great blog
I have an anaology to make.
Jason Smith is the Will Bunch of the Flyers.
Nobody really knows what he is doing out there, but somehow he gets paid to do it
WBB
Posted by Walter Benjamin Barry | May 13, 2008 8:19 PM
This is the most frustrating thing i've ever witnessed. the flyers simple can't get a clear shot at that net. this whole series has been about the penguins defense. crosby and malkin have little to do with the series right now.
Posted by Bob | May 13, 2008 9:13 PM
How many times does a guy get the opportunity to give up the GWG or game-changing goal in a series?
Posted by Downie for Conn Smythe | May 13, 2008 9:47 PM
Steve Downie has cost this team from day one of the regular season with his bone-head hit/suspension... to last game with his bonehead pass, now this game with another bonehead pass! He better be playing in the spectrum next year.
Posted by Mitchell | May 13, 2008 9:50 PM
Key points from tonight...
1. The Steve Downie experiment is over.
2. Danny Briere is really, really soft on the puck.
3. Vinny Prospal seems to be playing his way right out of town. Has he registered a shot in this series?
4. Tripping is only a penalty if the Flyers commit it.
5. Braydon Coburn is going to get an entire offseason to heal up.
Posted by PSUFlyers | May 13, 2008 10:14 PM
Well now that we have done it in your "house" lets be a little more respectful. We are clearly the better team and have overcome adversity this season too. No whining or crying about the ref's or that NHL wants the Pens on cup finals. You had a good run, but we are just better. Now lets watch fat eddie route for the pens.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:22 PM
No matter how good their hockey team gets, Pittsburgh will always be a lousy, gray, incredibly dull city, flowing with terrible beer and conservative hicks. Looking forward to seeing Detroit hand Crosby his ass.
Posted by Todd Bridges | May 13, 2008 10:26 PM
Here is to being a redneck hick that likes bad beer, at least we will know what it is like to win a super bowl and a cup this decade!! Oh I bet the super bowl loss was an nfl conspiracy too.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:31 PM
Here is to being a redneck hick that likes bad beer, at least we will know what it is like to win a super bowl and a cup this decade!! Oh I bet the super bowl loss was an nfl conspiracy too.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:32 PM
Here is to being a redneck hick that likes bad beer, at least we will know what it is like to win a super bowl and a cup this decade!! Oh I bet the super bowl loss was an nfl conspiracy too.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:32 PM
Here is to being a redneck hick that likes bad beer, at least we will know what it is like to win a super bowl and a cup this decade!! Oh I bet the super bowl loss was an nfl conspiracy too.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:32 PM
It would be interesting to insert a healthy Gagne, Timonen, and Coburn for the Flyers, while taking away Malkin, Gonchar, and Whitney from the Pens and playing a series. Would the Pens be "clearly better?" Somehow I doubt it.
The Flyers have been dealt a lousy hand by Lady Luck. While I give the Penguins credit for taking advantage of the wounded teams they've beaten, I'm not willing to proclaim them clearly better than the Flyers. Take away a couple of own goals by the Flyers early in these games and it's a different series altogether.
Posted by PSUFlyers | May 13, 2008 10:35 PM
Just think. If the Flyers would've had Timonen tonight, they MIGHT have only lost 3-1.
Like I've said ALL ALONG, the Flyers just aren't a good enough hockey club to occupy the same sheet as the Penguins.
The Penguins are better offensively.
The Penguins are better defensively.
The Penguins are better between the pipes.
The Penguins are better coached.
What the "f" is left?
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 10:35 PM
You could take away Crosby and Malkin and the Penguins would STILL win the series!
They're just a better team. Period! Get that thru your fat heads.
The PENS ARE JUST TOO LOADED!!!
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 10:37 PM
First, it was the officiating.
Then, it was home ice.
Then, it was injuries.
And now, it's Lady Luck.
Got anymore Flyers' fans?
Your team is laughable.
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 10:39 PM
Troll, we'll see just how loaded they are when the Wings blow their doors off. Somehow I doubt that you'll be here spouting off that your Pens have no business occupying the same pond as Detroit.
Posted by PSUFlyers | May 13, 2008 10:41 PM
Na na naaaaaa na.
Na na naaaaaa na.
Hey, hey, hey.
Gooood Byyyeee!
Na na naaaaaa na.
Na na naaaaaa na.......
The PENS ARE JUST TOO LOADED!!!!
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 10:43 PM
You root for some other team in the Finals.
I'll be rooting for MY team jerkoff.
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 10:44 PM
I seriously hope these comments aren't being driven by the PDN guys, trying to hike up traffic. Even so, I got upset for a minute with all the pro-Pens remarks, and then I remembered how much the city of Pittsburgh sucked, and how terrible the beer is, regardless of your team winning tonight.
I'm sorry to hear that Malkin and everyone have to return home to such a sucky city, and probably drink sucky Iron City beer, and then have their asses beat by Detroit. Come and see Philly next year. Briere, Umberger, and co. will be an even bigger force. And your city, and its terrible beer, won't have improved any.
Posted by Todd Bridges | May 13, 2008 10:45 PM
Please remember we did win without Crosby Fluery and a number of other player from Jan to April. We got healthy in time. We still would have beat you. I have never seen a group of fans cry as much as the Philly fans, but I guess when you get used to losing thats what happens. Oh yeah Penn State sucks too!! Oh no maybe Joe Pa could have come in and played defense and saved the day.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:47 PM
Where was Umberger and Briere this series? Not at the ice rink. Actually our boys like livin in the burgh. Lower cost of living lets the millions go further.
Posted by Jay | May 13, 2008 10:53 PM
Penguins got what they wanted, a possible trip to the finals through the backdoor--take on injured and a-shambles Senantors, an old out of gas Rangers and an injured Flyers team. Face it, no Gonchar, no Malkin and you wouldn't be up 3-0. The Penguins are a good team, just not better than a healthy Flyers. We hand you a goal or two every game and you just barely squeeze it out in the 3rd.
Who cares if you had injuries in the regular season, so did everyone. What matters is right now and right now you are healthy and we aren't. It's not whining it's FACT.
It will have taken 40 YEARS for the Pens to beat the Flyers in a series and that's with being gifted easily 4 of the top 10 players in the last 25 years. Congrats A-holes. Rewarded for being a terrible franchise.
Posted by PensAreJustTooLucky | May 13, 2008 10:55 PM
Where were you bandwagon clowns when your team was all packed up to move to Seattle or Oklahoma City or Ypsilanti or wherever else in God's creation they'd take your lousy franchise? Probably sitting back, praying for a Philly guy to bail your a$$es out.
Oh and Jay, which one of the 50,000 empty yellow seats are you at Pitt games?
Posted by PSUFlyers | May 13, 2008 11:05 PM
And Ladies and Gentlemen........Elvis has just left the building.
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 11:36 PM
Is the Briere-Prospal-Hartnell line really the Flyers number 1 line? Wow. That's pretty bad.
Before the series started, all of you Flyers fans said that your 3rd line was just as good as your 1st line. I guess you were right. They ALL suck.
Enjoy your last game of the year on Thursday night ladies.
The PENS ARE JUST TOO LOADED!!!
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 11:41 PM
When will Philadelphia give up on that tired old Kate Smith hor$e$h!t? IT'S NOT 1970 ANYMORE!! (If it was, the Flyers would have had a chance to win this series)
Although, Philly would have stood a better chance to win tonight if the old battle-ax would have dressed tonight.
This is such a TOTAL beatdown.
Posted by PensAreJustTooLoaded | May 13, 2008 11:55 PM
Take away all of those goals and players for the pens and maybe the flyers win this series
Posted by Anonymous | May 14, 2008 1:07 AM
I just love that excuse... replace your good players with bad players, then we'll beat you!! It really shows how confident the Philly fans are in their team.
Posted by Anonymous | May 14, 2008 1:12 AM
Wasn't Philly voted the dirtiest city with the ugliest women? I'm pretty sure they were. Even if your flyers team would have been 100% healthy they would have still lost the series. Maybe no 4-0 like they will lose now but maybe 4-2 at best. They made it past the first 2 rounds, be happy for that. The pens are just insanely more talented than they are. Until the flyers get rid of that goon mentality they will never win the cup. First thing you should do is get rid of Clarke. How he holds a position in the flyers organization shows how bad your ownership really is.
Posted by LetsGoPens | May 14, 2008 8:13 AM
Umm. The american lung association just named Pittsburgh the dirtiest city in a OBJECTIVE study 2 weeks ago and its held the first or second spot for years.
The ugliest thing was some crappy subjective magazine article, ditto for that fattest thing 5 years ago.
Posted by c | May 14, 2008 9:09 AM
Not dirtiest, smogiest, and it was a flawed study. They went to the one remaining town that just happened to produce smog....other than that little town pgh is very clean.
Posted by LetsGoPens | May 14, 2008 9:49 AM
Ok... "sootiest" is the general term. Sorry, it makes a world of difference.
Posted by c | May 14, 2008 11:05 AM
Good to see that intelligent discourse has officially been declared "extinct"..and that cuts both ways, fellow Pens fans. To the fans of the Flyers- the last 3 games have proven the Pens are more skilled offensively and defensively, including between the pipes. The Pens lineup is also deeper and healthier, but you play with who you got, not make excuse about who you don't have. The outcome of this series is all but settled, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyers send it back to the 'Burgh for a Game 5, but that game will end it. If not in 5, then 6. If not in 6, then 7. My point is there is no way the Flyers beat the current Pens team 4 straight.
As for the presumptive Cup Finals, having watched both teams throughout the first 3 rounds, I think it will be an exciting series. Both teams are well-coached: committed to a defense-first system, but also capable of creating spectacular goals off of transition play. Experience may well tip the scales toward the Red Wings, but any team with Malkin, Crosby and Hossa has got more than a fighting chance.
Cut the hatred, guys- Philly has some great atrributes, but so does Pittsburgh. Loyal fans in both places- the Pens were not teetering on translocation due to poor attendance, rather poor management in the pre-cap era.
Support the Eastern Conference rep either way, and prepare yourself for reality- the road to the Stanley Cup will be coursing like a 4th river through Pittsburgh for the forseeable future. An abundance of talent, friendly cap economics and solid management are a winning combination.
I look forward to the next battle on Thursday night!
Burgh Guy
Posted by Burgh Guy | May 14, 2008 1:51 PM
Regardless of the if's, but's and why's... The smog, the injuries, the refs, the ugliest women, the beer or whatever the Flyers are loosing the series and the Pens are winning. The bottom line - is - the bottom line. Pittsburgh appears to be the better team (if nothing else - based on the simple math involving final scores).
Next year isn't here right now and the past is all gone. Sorry Flyer fans. The Pens look like they are about to stick a fork in the Flyers and call the series done. If the outcome of the last 3 games isn't enough proof well, there MIGHT be 4 more chances for the Flyers I guess...? Otherwise, it could be a long off season I suppose if you are from Philly...
Posted by joeb | May 14, 2008 4:27 PM
No whining about the officials? Have you heard your coach cry in the Cup Finals? I have never heard a coach blame the refs as bad as this guy, especially when his team has been dominated.
The Wings have beat up on non dump and chase teams for damn near 20 years. Skill doesn't bother the wings because of their huge advantage on the blue line.
Posted by Anonymous | May 27, 2008 12:45 AM