The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers play Game 3 of their Eastern Conference First Round series at 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 22, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia. [1] The Flyers lead the best-of-seven 2-0, having taken both games at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Game 1 was 3-2 on a Porter Martone game-winner in regulation. Game 2 was 3-0 on Dan Vladar's first career playoff shutout, 27 saves, a second consecutive Martone game-winner, and a Luke Glendening empty-netter. [2] The Flyers — the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan, in their first playoff appearance since 2020 — have been the better team at every phase of the series so far.

What has to change for Pittsburgh to stay alive is legible. The Penguins averaged 3.54 goals per game in the regular season, third-best in the league. Through two playoff games they have scored twice. [3] The power play, which ran at 24.1 percent in the regular season and converted 7 of 18 against Philadelphia specifically, is 0-for-7 in the series with a shorthanded goal conceded. [2] Pittsburgh put two shots on goal in the first period of Game 2 and fifteen for the game. Evgeni Malkin's first-period goal in Game 1 is Sidney Crosby's line and the supporting forward group's only score of the series.

The Flyers counter with their best goaltending season of the post-rebuild cycle. Vladar, the backup for most of the year, has taken the crease over from Samuel Ersson and has not conceded more than two goals in four of his last five playoff-relevant starts. Martone, the nineteen-year-old rookie taken sixth overall last June, has scored in both games. [3] A Philadelphia win Wednesday evening makes the series 3-0 and places the Penguins — two-time Stanley Cup winners since 2016, recently returned to the playoffs after a two-year drought — one loss from elimination at Saturday's Game 4.

-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos