NHL Playoffs Roundup : Penguins’ Win Streak Is Short-Circuited by Flyers, 4-2

The lights went out in Pittsburgh Wednesday night, and so did the Penguins’ home-ice advantage in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Just as the fans were arriving for the start of the second game between the Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers, one of the main transformers at Civic Arena failed, causing a blackout.

The start of the game was delayed 76 minutes, and when the puck was finally dropped for the opening faceoff, the only guy really ready was Tim Kerr.

The high-scoring Flyer center had a first-period hat trick to lead the Flyers to a 4-2 victory and tie the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. The next two games will be at Philadelphia.

The Penguins actually jumped in front just three minutes into the game on a goal by Dan Quinn. Then Kerr took over. Two of Kerr’s goals were on power plays.

Meanwhile, the Penguins’ record-setting power play was short-circuited, and there was no comeback such as the one that pulled out a 4-3 victory in the opener.

Mario Lemieux scored a short-handed goal with less than six minutes left in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2. But Flyer goaltender Ron Hextall stopped Pittsburgh’s last 12 shots.

The Penguins, who swept the New York Rangers in four games in the first round of their first playoff appearance since before Lemieux joined them, had won five in a row before absorbing their first loss.

Tom Barrasso, whose goaltending had sparked the Penguins in the five victories, was suffering from the flu. After giving up Kerr’s three goals, he was replaced by backup Wendell Young.

Montreal 3, Boston 2--The Bruins have played two strong games at Montreal in their second-round series and have nothing to show for it.

In this one, they carried the powerful Canadiens into overtime. But then at 12:26, Bobby Smith came from behind the net to the right of the goal and swept the puck past goaltender Reggie Lemelin’s glove.

It was Smith’s fifth goal of the playoffs and gave the Canadiens three overtime wins in their six playoff victories.

Goaltender Patrick Roy extended his season-long unbeaten string at the Forum to 29-0-4 by making 27 saves. But to stay unbeaten, he first needed a lucky goal with 6:12 left in regulation.

Stephane Richer’s slap shot hit the left post, came out and caromed off Boston defenseman Ray Bourque’s stick. The puck hit Montreal’s Brian Gilchrist and bounced into the net without Lemelin knowing where the puck was.

The Canadiens had 41 shots to 29 for the Bruins, but both teams took seven shots in the overtime.