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Penguins Top Flyers, Take 2-0 Series Lead

Published: May 12, 2008

PITTSBURGH - Max Talbot, a sometimes overlooked fourth-line forward on a team renowned for its stars, scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins took a two-game lead in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 Sunday night.

Sidney 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 squandering one-goal 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.

The Penguins' game-winner came from its fourth line, and by a player who had missed the previous three games with a broken right foot.

Gary Roberts, who turns 42 later this month, carried the puck behind the net, and defenseman Derian Hatcher went with him, leaving Talbot open in front of the net. Roberts put a backhander onto his stick for Talbot's second playoff goal, at 8:51 of the third.

Philadelphia tied it at 2 when Mike Richards intercepted Evgeni Malkin's risky cross-ice pass on a power play and beat Marc-Andre Fleury with a wrist shot with 24 seconds left in the second period.

First Period-1, Pittsburgh, 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, Philadelphia, Carter 5 (Lupul, Modry), 5:46 (pp). 3, Pittsburgh, Hossa 6 (Malone, Gonchar), 13:43 (pp). 4, Philadelphia, 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, Pittsburgh, Talbot 2 (Roberts, Laraque), 8:51. 6, Pittsburgh, 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 on Goal-Philadelphia 9-13-10-32. Pittsburgh 9-16-13-38. Power-play opportunities-Philadelphia 1 of 3; Pittsburgh 2 of 6. Goalies-Philadelphia, Biron 8-6-0 (37 shots-34 saves). Pittsburgh, Fleury 10-1-0 (32-30). A-17,132 (16,940). T-2:46.