By ALAN ROBINSON, AP
May 12, 2008
PITTSBURGH - Losing on an Evgeni Malkin goal, or Sidney Crosby goal, the Flyers might understand.
Losing to Pittsburgh on fourth-line forward Max Talbot's goal will be very difficult for the Flyers to deal with, especially in a series that is fast slipping away from them.
Talbot, a checking line forward on a team renowned for its stars, scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Penguins took a two-game lead in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Flyers 4-2 last night.
Crosby and Marian Hossa also scored and Jordan Staal added an empty-net goal in the final minute as Pittsburgh came back to win after twice giving away leads.
Pittsburgh won the first two games at home for the third consecutive series, with Game 3 set for tomorrow night in Philadelphia. The Flyers won each of their first two playoff rounds after losing Game 1, but this is the first time they also lost Game 2 on the road.
"We've played in a Game 7 where if you lose, you go home," said goalie Martin Biron, who made 34 saves. "Game 3 isn't like that, but it's as close as it's going to get. I think we played pretty good, but we can play better. . . . It's all about desperation and urgency."
The Penguins' game-winner came from a player who had missed the previous three games with a broken right foot.
"It's something special - I was happy as a kid just to be back out there," Talbot said. "It was extra special to get the game-winner."
Gary Roberts, who turns 42 later this month, carried the puck behind the net after the Flyers' Steve Downie turned it over the blue line, and defenseman Derian Hatcher went with Roberts. That left Talbot open in the slot, and Roberts put a backhander onto his stick for Talbot's second playoff goal, at 8:51 of the third.
"He yelled for it, and I knew there was two D-men on either side of the net, so I kind of figured he was wide open so I threw it in front," Roberts said.
"That has been the story for the playoffs so far, those guys have stepped up," Crosby said. "And by 'those guys,' I mean, the guys on the third and fourth line have come up with some huge goals. They create a lot of momentum for us."
