Penguins at Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers extended their Eastern Conference first-round series by defeating the Penguins in Pittsburgh for the second time in three games. The Flyers, who find themselves trailing 3-2 in the series, aim to once again stave off elimination in Game 6 on Sunday afternoon against a Penguins club that has outscored the hosts 20-4 at Wells Fargo Center this season.
"The crowd plays a big role, especially in the playoffs," said Philadelphia center and Selke Trophy finalist Sean Couturier, who returned from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury to score the go-ahead goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period of Friday's 3-2 win. The Flyers aim to avert an 0-3 postseason performance for the second time in 20 years against Pittsburgh, which has posted wins in Philadelphia with lopsided scores of 5-1, 5-2, 5-1 and 5-0 - with the latter two coming in Game 3 and 4 of this series. Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby has tuned out Flyers fans and the team itself in Philadelphia, erupting for 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and a plus-8 rating in four games this season at Wells Fargo Center. "You have to have that urgency, that desperation level. Maybe you find that's easier to get when you're on the road more," said the 30-year-old Crosby, who was held reasonably in check with one assist and a minus-2 rating on Friday.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS
ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Forwards Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist will be "game-time decisions" in Game 6, per coach Mike Sullivan, with the former laboring after Jori Lehtera fell on his left leg in the first period while the latter has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Malkin returned to the second period and logged 20:22 of ice time, but Derick Brassard likely would be elevated from the third line to second should the former Hart Trophy recipient's injury be too much after the adrenaline wears off. "(Brassard) is an important player for us, regardless of who's in the lineup. He's a good player. I thought (Friday) night was his best performance as a Penguin," Sullivan said of Brassard, who notched an assist in Game 5 and has three points (one goal, two assists) in the series.
ABOUT THE FLYERS: Valtteri Filppula turned in his most impressive performance as a member of the Flyers on Friday, netting a short-handed goal to forge a tie late in the second period while setting up two others after failing to dent the scoresheet in his nine previous outings. "Fil's just a really good, two-way veteran. Very sound up and down the middle of the rink," coach Dave Hakstol said of the 34-year-old Finn. Michal Neuvirth, a surprise starter in Game 5, turned aside 30 shots - including a diving stop on Crosby with 50 seconds remaining in the third period - to increase his postseason save percentage to a sterling .930 in 15 career tilts.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh G Matt Murray sports a sizzling 9-1 record in his career in the next game after a postseason loss.
2. Philadelphia is 0-for-11 on the power play in the last three contests.
3. Penguins C Jake Guentzel has two goals, six assists and a plus-5 rating in the series.