Penguins eliminate Flyers

Down three goals and facing an inspired opponent in a hostile building, the Pittsburgh Penguins easily could have settled for going back home to play Game 7.

Instead, Sergei Gonchar and Sidney Crosby helped the Penguins stage a rally to advance to the next round.

Gonchar scored 2:19 into the third period for the go-ahead goal and the Penguins eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers with a 5-3 victory Saturday in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Crosby scored the tying goal in the second period and an empty-netter in the final minute, Ruslan Fedotenko and Mark Eaton also had goals and Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves.

Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul scored 51 seconds apart late in the first period and Daniel Briere had a power-play goal for the Flyers.

at Chicago 5, Calgary 1 -- Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg scored 19 seconds apart in a three-goal first period and the Blackhawks went on to take a 3-2 series lead.

Chicago’s Brent Seabrook opened the scoring on a power play 9:19 into the game and a little less than two minutes later, the quick goals from Sharp and Versteeg made it 3-0.

Game 6 is Monday night at Calgary, and Chicago will have a chance in that game to wrap up the franchise’s first playoff series win since 1996.