Flyers goalie shuts out Pens
- Flyers netminder Vladar recorded his first career playoff shutout in a win over the Penguins. - He finished with 27 saves and quieted star scorers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust. - The shutout set up Game 3 in Philadelphia and shifted series narratives and betting angles heading into Wednesday ( ).
Dan Vladar stopped all 27 shots he faced on April 20, giving the Flyers a 3-0 win in Pittsburgh and a 2-0 lead in the series. (nhl.com) It was Vladar’s first career playoff shutout, and it came in only his second Stanley Cup playoff start. He made 25 of his 27 saves after the first period as Pittsburgh pushed for an equalizer. (nhl.com) Porter Martone opened the scoring at 13:39 of the second period, Garnet Hathaway added a short-handed goal at 17:43, and Luke Glendening hit the empty net late in the third. Stuart Skinner finished with 20 saves for the Penguins. (nhl.com) The Penguins’ biggest names did not break through. Sidney Crosby set up Bryan Rust for a second-period chance that hit the post, but Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Rust all finished the night without a goal. (nhl.com) That result changed the shape of the matchup before the series shifted south. Game 3 was scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia with the Flyers carrying a 2-0 edge back home. (nhl.com) (delawareonline.com) The pre-series betting picture had looked different. CBS Sports noted last week that Pittsburgh opened as the favorite to advance, with prices ranging from -142 to -170 at major sportsbooks, while Philadelphia sat between +118 and +140. (cbssports.com) By Wednesday morning, the conversation had moved to whether Philadelphia could take a 3-0 lead. CBS Sports framed Game 3 around the Flyers’ two road wins, and Arizona Republic listed the puck drop for 7 p.m. Eastern in Philadelphia. (cbssports.com) (azcentral.com) The shutout also landed against a rivalry with playoff history. NHL.com called this the eighth postseason series between the Flyers and Penguins, with Pittsburgh trying to find “an offensive spark” as the games moved to Philadelphia. (nhl.com) Two nights later, Philadelphia pushed the series to 3-0 with a 5-2 home win on April 22. Vladar’s shutout in Game 2 now reads as the night the Flyers took control before the series reached Philadelphia. (delawareonline.com)
