Penguins too tough for Flyers

PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkin scored two goals five minutes apart to give Pittsburgh a two-goal lead after Sidney Crosby had tied the score, and the Penguins rode their two stars to a 4-2 victory over cross-state rival Philadelphia in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night.

Malkin, the leading scorer in the playoffs with 17 points as a result of a three-point night, scored with 6.5 seconds left in the first period with a tired Flyers line on the ice to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

That goal erased much of the momentum the Flyers gained by taking a 2-1 lead on Mike Richards’ two goals.

Malkin’s first career short-handed goal came on a breakaway created by Sergei Gonchar’s pass from one end of the ice to the other early in the second period. His slap shot flew past Martin Biron before he could react.