The Philly Crowd Was Ready, But The Flyers Were Not, Penguins Take A 2-1 Series Lead

After returning home with all the momentum, the Flyers disappointed a loud and rowdy Wells Fargo Center crowd Sunday afternoon. The Flyers dropped Game 3 to the Penguins 5-1.

The Penguins were led by, once again, the almighty power and public-enemy #1, Sidney Crosby. Crosby had another 4-point game, his second of the series. Matt Murray also responded after a shaky Game 2 performance with a 26 save win for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh regains home-ice advantage. Take a 2-1 series lead in the best of 7.

Observations From Game 3

< After controlling the first half of the opening period, a poor exit of their own zone costed the Flyers the game’s first goal. It seemed from that point forward, the Flyers had nothing else to give. Time after time, the Flyers looked sluggish and disinterested in the game. Todays effort was one the Flyers worst home efforts all season.

< In what is becoming repeatable, Brian Elliott had another game to forget. After bouncing back and absolutely taking over in Game 2, Elliott was back to the form he showed in Game 1. Now, today was not all Elliott’s fault. The Flyers left Elliott out to dry on multiple occasions. However, when Elliott was tasked with making a big game changing save, he was unable too. If history repeats itself, Elliott should be much better in Game 4.

< What happened to Oskar Lindblom? When the Flyers returned to the ice for the 2nd period, Lindblom took his usual shift with the Flyers second line. However, that was his only shift in the period. Coach Dave Hakstol benched the rookie for Scott Laughton in the 2nd and then Travis Konecny in the 3rd. Lindblom only had 9:32 of ice time in the game. Almost a third of that coming on two late power-plays in the game.

< After holding the Penguins power-play to only 1 goal in 8 opportunities during the first two games of the series, the Flyers allowed 3 goals on the 7 power-play opportunities today. The Flyers took too many unselfish and sloppy penalties today and the Penguins made them pay for it. After keeping a cool head in the first 2 games in Pittsburgh, the Flyers lost their cool today and was one of the reasons for the loss today.

< When the Flyers lost Game 1, Captain Claude Giroux said post-game that the Penguins better players out-played the Flyers better players. Well, during Game 2, the Flyers better players out-played the Penguins better players. Just like Brian Elliott’s goal-tending, the roles flip-flopped again and the Penguins better players out-played the Flyers better players today. If the Flyers keep this up, they stand no chance getting into a dog fight with a team that is 4-lines deep to the Flyers only having a good top 6.

Result : Flyers 1 – Penguins 5, LOSS

Series : 2-1 Penguins

Next Game : 4/18 Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia PA, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm