Unlikely Penguin keys win

PITTSBURGH -- Losing on an Evgeni Malkin goal, or Sidney Crosby goal, the Philadelphia Flyers might understand.

Losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins on fourth-line forward Max Talbot’s goal will be very difficult for the Flyers to deal with, especially in a series fast slipping away from them.

Talbot, a checking line forward on a team renowned for its stars, scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and the Penguins took a two-game lead in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Flyers, 4-2, Sunday night.

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

Pittsburgh won the first two games at home for the third consecutive series, with Game 3 set for Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The Flyers won each of their first two playoff rounds after losing Game 1, but this is the first time they also lost Game 2 on the road.

The Penguins’ game-winner came from a player who had missed the previous three games because of a broken right foot.

“It’s something special -- I was happy as a kid just to be back out there,” Talbot said. “It was extra special to get the game-winner.”