Flyers-Penguins: Game 3 recap

Penguins 4, Flyers 1

What it means: Golf season is approaching. The loss leaves the Flyers trailing in the series, 3-0.

Hero: Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby had two assists and was steady on the defensive end.

Goat: Hard to fault Flyers defenseman Jason Smith for an accident, but the Penguins' first goal caromed off his leg. The Flyers lost any home-ice momentum 5:03 into the contest.

Best hit: Steve Downie, giving away 4 inches and 43 pounds, put Penguins tough guy Georges Laraque on his wallet with a second-period check.

Nicest move: Marian Hossa deked Jeff Carter and then Lasse Kukkonen before firing a shot past Marty Biron for the Penguins' second goal. Hossa added an empty-netter for the final tally.

Key stat: The Flyers were scoreless in their three power-play attempts, while Pittsburgh went 1-for-2. Philadelphia is 1-for-9 in the series on the power play, a stat directly related to the absence of top defensive pair Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn.

Lineup watch: Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent saw his first action of the series in place of the injured Coburn. Pittsburgh's Gary Roberts, who assisted on Sunday's game-winner, was scratched with an illness. He was replaced by Adam Hall.

What's next: Game 4 is tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center. The last time the Flyers lost the fourth game of a sweep at home was the 1976 Stanley Cup finals to Montreal.