Game 6: Penguins attack for 8, Guentzel scores 4 in series clincher

The final game of the series had 2012 levels of scoring: the Flyers and Penguins scored 56 combined goals in six games that year. As a comparison, there were only 43 this time. 13 would come today as the Penguins win 8-5.

Provorov (shoulder) and Hornqvist (upper body) would both play through their game-time decision status, and Malkin (knee) did not play.

Game 6 got started in a hurry with an early Sean Couturier goal, the first of three he would go on to score Sunday.

Couturier would reveal that he played through a torn MCL in games 5 and 6, where he scored 4 goals and six points.

Another story tonight was Jake Guentzel’s four consecutive goals to tie, take the lead, win the game, and extend the lead. He added an assist on Hornqvist’s goal to cut into that 4-2 Flyers lead.

This was the first four consecutive goal game in the playoffs since 1985 (Tim Kerr, PHI).

Murray and Neuvirth looked leaky in this one, obviously given the 12 goals they allowed, excluding the empty net goal. Several pucks trickled across the line, and others were from big rebounds left in the slot. The Penguins need to play better defensively if they want to match up with Tampa Bay or Washington in the East.

Philadelphia gave the Pens only one powerplay opportunity, and killed it. They had three of their own, including a 4-on-3, and failed to convert.

Big time turnovers killed Philadelphia, who did lead 4-2 before giving up 5 straight goals. Their giveaway takeaway differential was -10, and more than one led directly to Penguin goals.

It’s time to look to the future.

The Positives

Valuable playoff experience for the young Flyers: Patrick and Provorov played like some of Philly’s best players over the 6 game stretch.

The Flyers got it together and came to play in the final two games. These weren’t blowouts, and they fought to the end.

Travis Sanheim and Oskar Lindblom can join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in their playoff run.

Notable Statistics

Jake Guentzel: 4G, 1A, GWG

Sean Couturier: 3G, 2A

Sidney Crosby: 1G, 2A

Crosby’s 13 points in the series is his 2nd most in any series of his career.

PIT 8-5 PHI

Pittsburgh wins series in six games, 4-2.

PIT plays winner of CBJ-WSH.