Pittsburgh’s Fast Start Finishes Off New York
The Pittsburgh Penguins only had to win one period to beat the New York Rangers.
With Mario Lemieux scoring twice, the Penguins took a 3-0 lead in the first period Tuesday night at Madison Sqaure Garden and it was just enough as they withstood a late flurry for a 3-2 victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.
“During the third period, New York came in pretty hard,” Penguins goaltender Ken Wregget said. “They didn’t capitalize on the chances they got, and we got lucky that way.
The Penguins, 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, rebounded with a solid effort following their worst performance of the playoffs at home.
Lemieux, the NHL’s leading scorer, had called Pittsburgh’s 6-3 loss to New York on Sunday the worst game the Penguins had played in several weeks.
Panthers 3, Rangers 2
Pittsburgh 3 0 0 - 3
N.Y. Rangers 0 2 0 - 2
First period-1, Pittsburgh, Lemieux 5 (Sandstrom, Daigneault), 6:33. 2, Pittsburgh, Lemieux 6 (Tamer, Smolinski), 10:18. 3, Pittsburgh, Sandstrom 2 (Jagr, Wilkinson), 15:25. Second period-4, New York, Churla 2 (Lowe), 3:02. 5, New York, Sundstrom 3 (Momesso, Samuelsson), 3:36. Third period-None.
Shots on goal-Pittsburgh 20-4-8-32. New York 14-16-9-39.Power-play opp.-Pittsburgh 0 of 4; New York 0 of 3.Goalies-Pittsburgh, Wregget 5-1 (39 shots-37 saves). New York, Richter 5-4 (32-29).A-18,200 (18,200).
Flyers 3, Panthers 1
Miami
Eric Lindros responded to derogatory remarks and posters from Florida fans by scoring the game-winner for the second consecutive game as Philadelphia beat Florida.
The win in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead and was Florida’s first home loss during the playoffs. Game 4 is Thursday night in Miami.
Lindros - blasted as a cheap shot artist in the South Florida media for his hits on Florida players in Game 2 - scored what turned out to be the deciding goal off a rebound near the goal line.
Dan Quinn also scored a goal and assisted on another goal and Trent Klatt had his fourth goal of the playoffs for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 2 0 1 - 3
Florida 0 1 0 - 1
First period-1, Philadelphia, Quinn 1 (Svoboda, Otto), 16:19 (pp). 2, Philadelphia, Lindros 5 (LeClair, Desjardins), 17:13 (pp). Second period-3, Florida, Laus 2, 7:34. Third period-4, Philadelphia, Klatt 4 (Quinn, Brind’Amour), 6:36.
Shots on goal-Philadelphia 17-8-9-34. Florida 2-9-14-25.Power-play opp.-Philadelphia 2 of 5; Florida 0 of 4.Goalies-Philadelphia, Hextall 6-3 (25 shots-24 saves). Florida, Vanbiesbrouck 5-3 (34-31).A-14,703 (14,503).
xxxx NHL playoffs Detroit at St. Louis, 5 p.m. (ESPN2) Colorado at Chicago, 5:30 p.m.