Penguins Squander Three Goal Lead; Lose Game 1

In game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost the special teams battle and subsequently the game.  The Penguins' powerplay went 0 for 3 and the Flyers scored on their only powerplay.  The Flyers lead the series 1-0.

Pittsburgh Penguins lost 4-3 in OT to the Philadelphia Flyers (Flyers lead the series 1-0)
The Penguins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Crosby and Kennedy.  Those two goals came in the first 8 minutes, and Dupuis would add a goal before the end of the first period.  In the second period, the momentum swung in Philadelphia's favor thanks to a penalty kill.  Not long after the penalty was over, Daniel Briere scored on a breakaway.  The replay showed that Briere took the pass on what was an offsides play.  Pittsburgh got another chance on the PP later in the period thanks to a Cross-check by Zac Rinaldo. Again, they could not muster much pressure.

Briere offsides on Flyers first goal.  Picture credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Briere added another goal nearly halfway through the third period, bringing the score to 3-2.  The goal gave the Flyers some extra jump.  Brooks Orpik answered with a huge hit on Briere, but was called for interference on the play.  Brayden Schenn tipped in a shot from Scott Hartnell on the powerplay to tie the game.  Fleury came up big on some saves, but had no chance on this one.  At the end of regulation, the game was tied 3-3.

In overtime, the Flyers owned the puck.  It took under 3 minutes for Jakub Voracek to bury a bouncing puck past a flopping Fleury.  The defense really cost the Penguins this game.  After the team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, their foot came off the throttle.  Once the Flyers tied the game, it was too difficult for the Penguins to rev it up again.  This was a big emotional blow for the Penguins and a big emotional lift for the Flyers.  Let's hope this is not a sign of things to come.