Letang's Second-Period Winner Keeps Penguins Alive

The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination with a 3-2 home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round, trimming the Flyers' series lead to 3-2 and forcing a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Philadelphia Flyers 3:2 (1:0, 2:2, 0:0)

Goals: 3. Söderblom (Mantha, Wotherspoon), 24. Dewar (Crosby, Lizotte), 38. Letang (Crosby, Shea) – 24. Bump (Ristolainen, Cates), 36. Sanheim (Ristolainen, Konecny).

Goalies: Silovs – Vladař. Shots on goal: 21:20.

/series state: 2:3/

Söderblom Opens, Pens Strike Twice in the Second

Elmer Söderblom drew first blood just past the two-minute mark of the opening frame, finishing a passing play started by Anthony Mantha and Parker Wotherspoon. Pittsburgh carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission and then punched it out to 2-0 early in the second when Connor Dewar converted off a Sidney Crosby setup.

Flyers Answer — Then Letang Has the Last Word

Philadelphia refused to fold. Anthony Bump replied seconds after the Pens' second goal, with Rasmus Ristolainen and Noah Cates assisting. Late in the period, Travis Sanheim tied it 2-2 on a Flyers power play. Kris Letang then took matters into his own hands at 17:32 of the second, beating Petr Vladař with a wrist shot from the high slot. Crosby and Ryan Shea picked up the helpers.

Silovs Slams the Door

Arturs Silovs was perfect in the third period, finishing with 18 saves on 20 shots as the Flyers pressed for an equalizer that never came. The Penguins' goalie had been the question mark of this series; Tuesday night he was the answer.

What It Means

Pittsburgh has cut Philadelphia's series lead to 3-2 and now heads back to the Wells Fargo Center for Game 6. The Flyers can still close out the series at home, but the Penguins have life — and Crosby, with another two-assist night at age 38, is showing why he remains the captain.