Penguins put Flyers in 2-0 hole

Fourth-liner Talbot tallies go-ahead goal

By Alan Robinson, Associated Press

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Losing on an Evgeni Malkin goal, or a Sidney Crosby goal, the Philadelphia Flyers might understand.

Losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins on fourth-line forward Max Talbot's goal will be very difficult for the Flyers to deal with, especially in a series that is fast slipping away from them.

Talbot, a checking-line forward on a team renowned for its standouts, scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and the Penguins took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final by beating the Flyers 4-2 on Sunday night.

Crosby and Marian Hossa also scored and Jordan Staal added an empty-net goal in the final minute as Pittsburgh came back to win after twice giving away leads.

Pittsburgh won the first two games at home for the third consecutive series, with Game 3 set for Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

The Flyers won each of their first two playoff rounds after losing Game 1, but this is the first time they also lost Game 2 on the road.

"We've played in a Game 7 where if you lose, you go home," said goalie Martin Biron, who made 34 saves. "Game 3 isn't like that, but it's as close as it's going to get. I think we played pretty good, but we can play better. . . . It's all about desperation and urgency."

The Penguins' winner came from a player who had missed the previous three games because of a broken right foot.

"It's something special - I was happy as a kid just to be back out there," Talbot said. "It was extra special to get the game-winner."

Philadelphia, already playing without top defenseman Kimmo Timonen (blood clot), played most of the game with five defensemen after Braydon Coburn was struck in the face by Hal Gill's shot less than two minutes into the game. Coburn, who was struck near his left eye, left the ice bleeding and didn't return.

Penguins 4, Flyers 2

Philadelphia 0 2 0 - 2

Pittsburgh 1 1 2 - 4

First period - 1, Pit, Crosby 4 (Gonchar), 10:48 (pp). Penalties - Upshall, Phi, major (fighting), 3:49; Kennedy, Pit, major (fighting), 3:49; Laraque, Pit (roughing), 4:22; Carter, Phi (tripping), 8:44; Knuble, Phi (cross-checking), 10:40; Smith, Phi (interference), 15:32; Dupuis, Pit (hooking), 15:32; Upshall, Phi (holding), 18:35.

Second period - 2, Phi, Carter 5 (Lupul, Modry), 5:46 (pp). 3, Pit, Hossa 6 (Malone, Gonchar), 13:43 (pp). 4, Phi, Richards 7, 19:36 (sh). Penalties - Hossa, Pit (holding), 2:38; Dupuis, Pit (interference), 4:58; Hatcher, Phi (hooking), 13:34; Ruutu, Pit (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:17; Hartnell, Phi (roughing), 18:17; Hatcher, Phi (cross-checking), 18:17.

Third period - 5, Pit, Talbot 2 (Roberts, Laraque), 8:51. 6, Pit, Staal 3 (Crosby, Gonchar), 19:31 (en). Penalties - Briere, Phi (goaltender interference), 1:52; Biron, Phi, served by Hartnell (roughing), 5:21; Ruutu, Pit (diving), 5:21.

Shots - Phi 9-13-10 - 32. Pit 9-16-13 - 38. Power plays - Phi 1 of 3; Pit 2 of 6. Goalies - Phi, Biron 8-6-0 (37 shots-34 saves). Pit, Fleury 10-1-0 (32-30). A - 17,132 (16,940). T - 2:46. Referees - Kelly Sutherland, Dan O'Halloran. Linesmen - Shane Heyer, Brad Lazarowich.