The momentum in the first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins has officially shifted to the west.
The Penguins have won two straight games with their season on the line and will look to continue their rally against their intrastate rivals Wednesday when they skate with the Flyers in a pivotal Game 6.
Philadelphia appeared to be in control of the series after winning the first three games by a combined score of 11-4. However, a 4-2 defeat in Game 4 gave Pittsburgh life – and the Penguins followed up that performance with a 3-2 triumph in Game 5 on Monday.
“The first three games we kind of got into the same slow game, scrum it out every time,” said Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang, who has scored the game-winning goals in each of the last two contests. “Obviously, the playoffs are a different energy, but Games 4 and 5, we’re playing with pace, and that’s what we did all year. … We’re a team that won by playing fast.”
Letang’s fluky game-winner in Game 5 was a shot that fluttered past Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar, hit off the end boards and ricocheted back into the crease, where it got lost in Vladar’s skates and trickled over the goal line.
Elmer Soderblom and Connor Dewar also scored for the Penguins, while Sidney Crosby had two assists and Arturs Silovs made 18 saves.
“I thought the last couple games we’ve found our stride a bit,” Crosby said. “So, we should feel good about that. I think with any series, though, you’ve got to get better with every game, and there’s still things we can do better.”
Only four teams in NHL history have blown a 3-0 series lead by losing the final four games. The Flyers obviously don’t want to join that list, but they’re staying focused and confident for now.
“We’ve got to regroup, get ready for the next one and find that desperation,” said Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim, who scored one of the team’s two goals. “I think going home, in our building, we’re still in a good spot.”
The Flyers received a boost in Game 5 from Alex Bump, who scored a goal in his first career playoff contest, and fellow rookie Denver Barkey, who played with energy and poise on his 21st birthday.
“The young guys were good,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’ve got to get some (veteran) guys (going), though — they’ve got to step it up. They’ve got to play with more pace, shorter shifts. … We’ve got to come up with some stuff here.”
Vladar has not looked 100% since injuring his right arm in Game 3. He finished with 18 saves in Monday’s setback.
He’ll likely need to be sturdier in net if the Flyers are going to win a playoff series for the first time since 2020. Meanwhile, the Penguins have not advanced in the postseason since defeating Philadelphia in the first round in 2018.
If there is a Game 7, it will take place Saturday evening in Pittsburgh. But for now, the teams remain focused on delivering their best efforts in Game 6.
“There’s no way that group’s going to go away,” Tocchet said. “No chance.”
