05/13/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Hockey Betting) - Marian Hossa scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Wachovia Center.
Ryan Whitney and Ryan Malone also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who improved to 11-1 in the postseason and are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992.
Sidney Crosby added a pair of assists to take over the NHL scoring lead with 19 points, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 17-of-18 shots to record the win.
"This is a young team that's playing a really mature game," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "They're committed defensively."
R.J. Umberger tallied for the Flyers, who are facing an 0-3 series deficit for the first time since falling to the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game Cup Finals sweep in 1997.
Martin Biron surrendered three goals on 24 shots.
Game 4 is slated for Thursday in Philadelphia.
The Pens netted the key goal in the contest, which gave them a 3-1 edge just seconds before the midway point in the third. Petr Sykora took advantage of a broken play in the left circle by finding a loose puck and dishing in front to Malone, who was all alone to slip a backhander past Biron.
Facing a third consecutive loss, the Flyers played with more spirit and aggressiveness late in regulation. However, Fleury was equal on all 10 Philadelphia shots in the period.
Hossa hit the empty net with 53.7 seconds to go, providing the exclamation point on the victory and a stranglehold on the series.
"I don't think there's any lack of commitment on our team whatsoever," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "I think we have to find a way to play with confidence and execute with the pressure we're receiving."
Pittsburgh grabbed the lead while on the power play 5:03 into the contest, as Whitney banked a shot from the left wing off Flyers defenseman Jason Smith and through Biron.
Hossa then dipped between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot from the high slot at 7:41 and the visitors opened up a two-goal advantage.
Although the Flyers failed to convert on their first power play, Umberger brought the home team within 2-1 at 10:59. Vinny Prospal's initial wraparound banked off Fleury at the post, but the Pittsburgh native was unmarked and tapped home the rebound from the crease.
The middle 20 minutes passed without a goal, as the Penguins seemed more intent on shutting down Philly's passing and shooting lanes than adding to their goal total. The Flyers were held to only three shots on net and remained behind by one heading into the final period.
"We knew if we could score first, we could quiet the crowd," Hossa said. "That was the first step, and after that we kept at it. If we play well defensively, we know we can be successful because we also have the talent to score goals and create rushes."
Game Notes
Pittsburgh improved to 9-0 when scoring first this playoff year, and upped its record to 10-2 all time in Game 3s after winning the first two in any series...The 1982-83 Edmonton Oilers were the last club to begin the playoffs at 11-1, but they were eventually swept by the New York Islanders in the Finals...The Flyers missed defensemen Kimmo Timonen (blood clot) and Braydon Coburn (eye)...The Penguins were without forward Gary Roberts due to illness...Umberger's goal was his 10th of the playoffs, second only to Detroit's Johan Franzen with 12...Prospal recorded his team-best 10th assist.
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It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
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