Penguins Vs. Flyers, Game 5: Pittsburgh Staves Off Elimination Again With 3-2 Win

Penguins Vs. Flyers, NHL Playoffs 2012: Marc-Andre Fleury Redeems Himself, Philly Braces For Impact

The Pittsburgh Penguins picked up another NHL Playoff win against the Philadelphia Flyers to bring the series to 3-2 and have all the momentum going for them right now. The Flyers were up on the Penguins 3-0 at one point and looked as if they were going to sweep the series after pounding the Pens 8-4, but Ben Rothenberg at Broad Street Hockey warns to forget about that right now.

It no longer matters that it was once 3-0 in this series. Now it's just 3-2, like all the other East series will be after they play their Game 5s. If the Flyers play with the urgency they showed in the third, that same urgency that was nowhere to be found in the second, they should be fine. This team still has the lead, and the Penguins still can't afford to lose Game 6 while the Flyers can. You'd rather be the Flyers than the Penguins at this point. Keep telling yourself that.

Game 5 wound up being worlds different than the first four games of the series, as there were only five total goals scored. Previously, the two teams' goalies had been acting as sieves, but Pens goaltender Marc-Andrew Fleury finally redeemed himself and had a heck of a game according to the folks at Pensburgh.

At best he was terrible and being called some pretty awful things. At worst, well, it was even less pretty than that. There's no doubt the early portion of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers series was a challenge for Marc-Andre Fleury. The Pens defense conceded a lot of open ice to slick, fast and skilled forwards of the Flyers. Those Flyers made no mistakes with accurate, usually cross-ice passes to pull Fleury out of position and then deposit it by him.

Fast forward to game 5, and it was more of the same. The Pens battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 holes to take a 3-2 lead on the visiting Flyers. Fleury, who only saw 12 shots up to the middle of the 3rd period was then called upon. And he answered, stopping 14 shots in a Philly barrage.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Flyers vs. Penguins series coverage. For more from the Philadelphia perspective, check in with Broad Street Hockey, and for more from the Pittsburgh perspective, check in with Pensburgh.

Penguins Vs. Flyers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: Marc-Andre Fleury Carries Pittsburgh To 3-2 Win

The Pittsburgh Penguins have forced a Game 6 on Sunday afternoon and they all owe goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury a beer. Fleury was the reason Pittsburgh held off a third-period charge from the Philadelphia Flyers, and it boosted the team to a 3-2 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The Flyers controlled possession throughout the third and came on strong for just about 15 straight minutes in the final period, but Fleury was literally in ninja mode. See, look:

Overall, Fleury was phenomenal in the third and throughout the game, and without his phenomenal play, the Penguins wouldn't be moving on. Special teams were again huge as well, as Philadelphia scored both goals on the power play, but Pittsburgh's penalty kill came up strong on a third-period power play that seemed to help Fleury settle in for the barrage that would come after.

Game 6 is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, and against all odds, Pittsburgh can force a Game 7 with a win.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Flyers vs. Penguins series coverage. For more from the Philadelphia perspective, check in with Broad Street Hockey, and for more from the Pittsburgh perspective, check in with Pensburgh.

Penguins Vs. Flyers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: Tyler Kennedy Gives Pittsburgh 3-2 Lead

The Philadelphia Flyers were lucky to get out of the second period with just a one-goal deficit in Game 5, as the Pittsburgh Penguins took complete control of the game and grabbed a 3-2 lead. Tyler Kennedy's goal at the 9:53 mark of the period gave the Pens their first lead of the game.

Wayne Simmonds screened goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov on the play, and the Flyers netminder didn't have a chance on the perfectly placed shot by Kennedy. Perhaps the Penguin could have been smoother with his celebration, but we doubt he or the CONSOL Energy Center crowd care at this point.

Philly got away from their game in the first period and, if they want to end this series in Game 5, they're going to have to regain control and get some chances on Marc-Andre Fleury's net.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Flyers vs. Penguins series coverage. For more from the Philadelphia perspective, check in with Broad Street Hockey, and for more from the Pittsburgh perspective, check in with Pensburgh.

Penguins Vs. Flyers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 5: Philly Wins Special Teams Battle, Grabs 2-1 Lead

For the first time in this Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series, the first period of play between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins was calm. It resembled hockey, not the goal-fest we've come to expect from these two. All the goal scoring was special teams-based, and the Flyers got the upper hand in that department in the first period. As a result, they lead 2-1.

Scott Hartnell broke a tie late in the period when he gathered a puck all alone to the glove-hand side of Marc-Andre Fleury. He had plenty of time to compose the puck and lift it to the top shelf over Fleury.

The defense is much stronger on both sides, and the goaltenders actually seem like competent NHL players.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Flyers vs. Penguins series coverage. For more from the Philadelphia perspective, check in with Broad Street Hockey, and for more from the Pittsburgh perspective, check in with Pensburgh.

GIF: Penguin-On-Penguin Violence

NHL Playoffs 2012, Penguins Vs. Flyers Game 5: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

Pittsburgh's offense was sharp in a 10-3 victory in Game 4 - but they'll need three more wins to come back from a 3-0 deficit against their cross-state rivals.