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(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia,
Money Line: -155.00 Pittsburgh (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -155.00 Pittsburgh (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Philadelphia Flyers lost Games 3 and 4 at home to the Penguins to fall behind 3-1 in this best-of-seven series. They limped back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 but the Flyers extended their Eastern Conference first-round series by defeating the Penguins in Pittsburgh for the second time in three games. Center and Selke Trophy finalist Sean Couturier, who returned from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury, scored the go-ahead goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period of Friday's 3-2 win. The Flyers now find themselves trailing 3-2 in the series, and once again look to stave off elimination in Game 6 on Sunday afternoon.
Pittsburgh: Superstar captain Sidney Crosby was held reasonably in check with one assist and a minus-2 rating on Friday. Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist will be "game-time decisions" in Game 6, per head 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 playing time. Malkin did not practice, and coach Mike Sullivan did not comment on his status, saying all players are game-time decisions. Malkin was the Penguins' leading scorer in the regular season () and he has three goals and five points in the series. 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.
Philadelphia: Couturier had the game-winner on Friday but Valtteri Filppula turned in his most impressive performance as a member of the Flyers in Game 5, 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," 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.
The pick: Neuvirth seems to be Philly's likely starter in net but his "opposite" number will be Pittsburgh's Matt Murray, who sports a sizzling 9-1 record in his career in the next game after a postseason loss. Let's also not ignore what the Pens have done in four games this season on Philly's home ice. Pittsburgh has posted lopsided wins by the 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. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.
Pittsburgh: Superstar captain Sidney Crosby was held reasonably in check with one assist and a minus-2 rating on Friday. Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist will be "game-time decisions" in Game 6, per head 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 playing time. Malkin did not practice, and coach Mike Sullivan did not comment on his status, saying all players are game-time decisions. Malkin was the Penguins' leading scorer in the regular season () and he has three goals and five points in the series. 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.
Philadelphia: Couturier had the game-winner on Friday but Valtteri Filppula turned in his most impressive performance as a member of the Flyers in Game 5, 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," 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.
The pick: Neuvirth seems to be Philly's likely starter in net but his "opposite" number will be Pittsburgh's Matt Murray, who sports a sizzling 9-1 record in his career in the next game after a postseason loss. Let's also not ignore what the Pens have done in four games this season on Philly's home ice. Pittsburgh has posted lopsided wins by the 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. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.