It seemed over from Claude Giroux's massive opening shift, when the Philadelphia Flyers stormed out to a 1-0 lead and showed they'd be setting the physical tone in Game 6. From that point on, it almost seemed as though the final 59 minutes of hockey were a formality as the Flyers cruised to victory, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Flyers Vs. Penguins, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Philly Eliminates Pittsburgh With 5-1 Win
Pittsburgh entered the third period down 4-1, and when they put the puck behind Ilya Bryzgalov during a power play near the midpoint of the period, it seemed as though there was hope for the Pens. But upon review, the officials decided that Bryzgalov was pushed into his net and the goal was disallowed.
That seemed like the final nail in Pittsburgh’s coffin, and from there, the Flyers used solid defense to dispatch their cross-state rivals. It was the complete opposite of much of the series, where the teams combined for more goals than we’ve ever seen in a Stanley Cup Playoff series. Philadelphia killed off four of five Pittsburgh power play attempts and, in total, the 40 blocked shots and the 30 saves from Bryzgalov were the difference in the game.
The Flyers are the first Eastern Conference team to advance to the semifinals. Their second-round opponent is still to be determined.
For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation’s NHL hub. For more on the Flyers, visit Broad Street Hockey and SB Nation Philadelphia. For more on the Penguins, head to Pensburgh and SB Nation Pittsburgh.
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