Redemption for Elliott as Flyers stun Pens
>> PITTSBURGH: Brian Elliott made 34 saves as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 to level their Eastern Conference first round series on Friday.
Elliott produced a masterful goaltending performance to keep the Stanley Cup champions at bay as the Flyers responded brilliantly following a 7-0 drubbing in Game One.
It was a personal triumph for Elliott, who leaked five goals from 19 shots in the series opener before being yanked in the second period.
At the other end, Flyers star Sean Couturier contributed a goal and two assists as Philadelphia silenced Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny, Andrew McDonald and Nolan Patrick were the other scorers for the Flyers, who effectively shackled Penguins ace Sidney Crosby.
Pat Hornqvist reduced the deficit for Pittsburgh in the third period to make it 4-1, but MacDonald’s late effort completed an emphatic win for Philadelphia as they head into Game Three today with the series level at 1-1.
In Las Vegas, Erik Haula’s goal in double overtime gave Vegas a 2-1 win and a 2-0 lead against Los Angeles in the Western Conference series.
With 4:37 minutes left on the clock in the second overtime, Haula skated in on his own to beat goalie Jonathan Quick and send a towel-waving crowd of 18,588 into a frenzy.
Game Three i n the best-of-seven Western Conference series is today in Los Angeles.
Alex Tuch scored for expansion Vegas in regulation, and Paul LaDue had the Kings’ goal.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for the Golden Knights. Quick stopped 54 shots for the Kings.
Los Angeles played without star defenceman Drew Doughty, who served a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Vegas forward William Carrier during the Golden Knights’ 1-0 series-opening victory on Wednesday.
In Winnipeg, Paul Stastny, Andrew Copp and Patrik Laine scored in the third period and Winnipeg beat Minnesota 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference series.
Defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal in the second period and also had an assist. Rookie Jack Roslovic, replacing injured Mathieu Perreault, had two assists in the game that ended with a series of fights.
Zach Parise had his second goal of the series when he deflected Mikko Koivu’s shot past Connor Hellebuyck to end the goalie’s shut-out bid with 45 seconds left. The goal came on the power play after Jets forward Brandon Tanev was called for hooking with 59 seconds left.
Hellebuyck made 16 saves. Devan Dubnyk stopped 39 shots for Minnesota.
Winnipeg won 3-2 on Wednesday night. Game Three is today at Minnesota.