Broad Street Brawl: Flyers Escape Wednesday Chaos With 5-2 Win

Here’s how we got to the final score.

Read More: Flyers-Penguins Playoff Series Game 3: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Penguins take the early lead

The Penguins got off to a very strong start, tallying 7 shots on goal within the first 3:21 of the game. Needing a strong start, they came out with all the intensity in the world. Pittsburgh was able to generate some really dangerous chances in that time, but the Flyers’ defense was able to make the play to save a goal.

Then, with 3:21 off the clock, Sean Couturier was called for tripping, giving the Penguins their 8th power play of the series. That time, they broke through. Bryan Rust (1) found Evgeni Malkin (2) cross-crease for the backdoor stuff, giving Pittsburgh its first lead of the series early in Game 3. Sidney Crosby (1) earned his first point of the series with the secondary assist.

For the first time since the 11:19 mark of the first period of April 13th’s clincher vs. the Hurricanes, the Flyers had to play from behind.

The Flyers calmed down following the score, and evened things up on the shots side of the period, with each side going into the first break tied 11-11 in shots, and the Penguins up 1-0.

Read More: Flyers Keys to Success For a Game 3 Win

Flyers answer in chaotic 2nd period

Before the period ended, Garnet Hathaway picked up a high-sticking penalty. Fortunately for the Flyers, the referees saw through Crosby’s sell job, sending him to the box for embellishment. So the game went to 4-on-4, which is how the second period opened. Well, for the first 47 seconds, anyway.

The Flyers controlled the remaining 4-on-4, but the Penguins got the first shot on goal once 5-on-5 kicked back in. However, 5-on-5 did not last long before Travis Konecny and Kris Letang went to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Flyers got a prime chance at 4-on-3 after Erik Karlsson was called for tripping just 41 seconds into 4-on-4. Nothing came from that, but there was an all-out melee on the ice, which started after Bryan Rust had an issue with Konecny, taking him to the ice and throwing punches.

A lot happened. An eternal review, pulling guys in and out of the box, but it ended with a Flyers power play since Rust earned a double minor. When I say ALOT, this is what I mean.

The Flyers took advantage of that power play. After a couple of missed chances, Jamie Drysdale (1) teed up Trevor Zegras (1), who buried the rocket past Stuart Skinner, tying the game at 1. Porter Martone (1) registered his third point of the postseason with the assist.

The Flyers weren’t done. Just under 4 minutes later, the Flyers were back in the offensive zone. They had a few near misses, but this one did not.

Noah Juulsen (1) set up Rasmus Ristolainen (1) with a great pass from the near corner to the right side, where Ristolainen went five-hole on Skinner to give the Flyers their first lead of the night. Two minutes after that, they struck again.

Sean Couturier (3), who assisted on the last goal as well, found Juulsen (2) at the point. He then slid a pass along the blue line to Nick Seeler (1), who ripped a slap shot past Skinner from the point with Couturier and Luke Glendening screening the net. All of a sudden, it’s a 3-1 game.

3 minutes later, Evgeni Malkin earned a cross-checking minor, but the game went to 4-on-4 with Matvei Michkov getting an embellishment penalty on the play. Nothing came from 4-on-4.

The Penguins had one last puck-dominating possession before the second intermission, but did not score. That brought the game to the final 20 minutes with a 3-1 score.

More power-play goals

Five minutes into the third period, and no fights broke out. That was a pleasant start to the third period.

The Penguins looked to mount a comeback and came out with a spark similar to that of the first period in the third, but did not break through early on.

5:11 into the period, Tyson Foerster was called for tripping Ben Kindell on the zone entry, putting the Penguins back on the power play. Philly killed off the penalty and avoided disaster after Bryan Rust unintentionally collided with Vladar.

The Penguins went right back on the power play after Michkov was called for roughing Connor Dewar. That penalty did not go as well.

Erik Karlsson (1) sent a shot from the point that squeaked through and past Vladar, bringing the Penguins within 1 with 10:21 to go.

Pittsburgh was brewing a comeback, and the Flyers needed something to go their way fast. They got that when Anthony Mantha sent a puck over the glass, getting called for a delay of the game minor.

Philly found just what it needed. Trevor Zegras (2) was patient with the puck and found Noah Cates (1) in front, who turned and flipped the puck far-side to beat Skinner. The Flyers had the 4-2 lead with 7:30 to go.

Pittsburgh got another power play after Sean Couturier was called for hooking just moments later. It set the stage for a big moment: either a massive penalty kill or another momentum-swinging goal.

Flyers put it away

After a minute, the Flyers had held the Penguins shotless in a big spot with a few big clears. Philly earned the kill, and even had a 2-on-0 as a Penguins turnover found Couturier coming out of the box.

Couturier and Tippett could not connect, and the Flyers missed a good chance to put this game to bed.

The Penguins pulled Skinner with just about 3 minutes remaining in the game for time with the extra attacker. It was the third game of the series where Pittsburgh had tried to come back from a 2-goal deficit before emptying the net.

They got the Game 2 result.

Owen Tippett (1) surged down the ice and guided the puck past the goal line, sealing the game at its 5-2 final score.

What’s next

We will be right back at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday for Game 4 of the series at 8:00 p.m. EST with a chance to put the series away.

Read More: Flyers Add More Depth; Recall 5 More Players from Lehigh Valley

The post Broad Street Brawl: Flyers Escape Wednesday Chaos With 5-2 Win appeared first on Philly Hockey Now.