OTTAWA — Sidney Crosby had four points, including two of Pittsburgh’s five goals in the second period, leading the Penguins to a 7-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night and a 3-1 series lead.
Crosby assisted on Evgeni Malkin’s power-play goal 11:50 in, the only score of the first period.
Crosby scored two of Pittsburgh’s three goals in a 2:25 span early in the second. Matt Cooke scored 12 seconds after Crosby’s first goal to make it 3-0, and the Penguins’ 22-year-old captain added his fourth goal of the series at 6:12 to chase Brian Elliott.
Chris Kunitz had a goal and two assists and Maxime Talbot had a goal and an assist as the teams combined for eight goals in the second, one short of the NHL playoff record for goals in a period.
Sergei Gonchar had three assists for the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, who need one more win to claim their second first-round series win over Ottawa in three years.
Flyers 4, Devils 1
PHILADELPHIA — Jeff Carter scored two goals and Danny Briere had one to end their playoff scoring droughts to help give Philadelphia a commanding 3-1 lead.
The Devils haven’t won three straight games since they won five straight from Dec. 12 to 21.
The Flyers have won 17 of 19 playoff series when they hold a 3-1 lead. One of those blown leads came in 2000 in goalie Brian Boucher’s rookie season. Ten years later and in his third stint with the organization, Boucher has them on the brink of advancing to the conference semifinal.
Chicago vs. Nashville
NASHVILLE — Late game.
The Associated Press
