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Crosby, Letang lift Penguins past Flyers 4-2 to extend season
Crosby, Rakell each had a goal and assist as Pittsburgh staved off elimination 4-2 at Philadelphia, cutting the Flyers' first-round series lead to 3-1.
Crosby, Letang lift Penguins past Flyers 4-2 to extend season
Pittsburgh staved off elimination Saturday night, riding goals from Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Kris Letang and Connor Dewar to a 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Flyers still lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, but the series returns to PPG Paints Arena for Game 5.
Penguins 4, Flyers 2 | Periods: 0-1, 1-1, 1-2 | Goalies: Vladar (PHI) 17 saves, Silovs (PIT) 28 saves | Series: PHI leads 3-1
Crosby's power play opens it
The Penguins struck first at 14:24 of the first period. After Denver Barkey was sent off for high-sticking, Erik Karlsson found Crosby through the slot and the captain finished cleanly past Vladar. Pittsburgh dictated pace through the opening 20, despite squandering two more man-advantages of their own.
Rakell extends, Barkey answers
Rakell wasted no time on the second-period push, scoring 1:03 into the middle frame to make it 2-0. Philadelphia stayed within reach when Barkey, just 21, redirected a Cam York feed at 15:40 for his first career NHL playoff goal — a moment that briefly reignited Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Letang dagger, Konecny too late
Pittsburgh's veteran spine showed itself in the third. Letang ripped a Crosby pass past Vladar at 4:27 to push the lead to 3-1. Konecny pulled one back at 7:03 with a Dvorak setup, but Vladar's pulled net invited Dewar's empty-netter at 19:03 — assisted by Brock Lizotte and Noel Acciari — to seal it.
Why it matters
Crosby summed it up: "It's only one, but I think it gives us some life… that looked more like our game." After three games where the Flyers' youth and pace dictated the series, Pittsburgh's playoff DNA finally surfaced. Vladar acknowledged the room is still confident: "If somebody told you guys before the series we were going to be up 3-1, you guys wouldn't believe us." The Flyers have three chances to close out the Penguins; Pittsburgh has just bought themselves the chance to make it interesting.