Originally published Monday, May 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NHL Playoffs | Penguins increase East final lead to 2-0

Losing on a goal by a Pittsburgh Penguins superstar such as Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, the Philadelphia Flyers might understand. But losing to Pittsburgh...

By The Associated Press

NHL scoreboard

PITTSBURGH — Losing on a goal by a Pittsburgh Penguins superstar such as Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, the Philadelphia Flyers might understand.

But losing to Pittsburgh on fourth-line forward Max Talbot's goal is difficult for the Flyers to deal with, especially in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series that seemingly is slipping away from them.

Talbot scored the go-ahead goal at 8:51 of the third period and the Penguins beat the Flyers 4-2 Sunday night to take a 2-0 series lead.

Talbot had missed the previous three games because of a broken right foot.

Crosby said, "That has been the story for the playoffs so far, those guys have stepped up. And by those guys, I mean the guys on the third and fourth line have come up with some huge goals.

"They create a lot of momentum for us."

Crosby and Marian Hossa also scored for the Penguins, and Jordan Staal added an empty-net goal in the final minute as Pittsburgh came back to win after twice giving away leads.

Game 3 is Tuesday in Philadelphia.

"It's all about desperation and urgency," said Flyers goaltender Martin Biron, who made 34 saves.

Note

• Dallas forward Mike Ribeiro, who said Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood "clipped me in the face" with his stick late in Game 2 of the West final series Saturday, responded with a two-handed stick slash across the chest of Osgood, a former Seattle Thunderbird.

Ribeiro received a 10-minute match penalty and Osgood was not penalized at the time, but both were fined undisclosed amounts by the league Sunday for their actions. Neither was suspended, and both are expected to play in Game 3 tonight in Dallas. Detroit leads the series 2-0.

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