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Flyers look to extend series, face Penguins

May 18, 2008 - 2:27 PM Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 3:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference Finals Penguins lead series, 3-1

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The desperate Philadelphia Flyers aim to stave off elimination once again on Sunday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals.

Joffrey Lupul scored twice and Martin Biron stopped 36 shots as the Flyers posted a 4-2 victory in Philadelphia on Friday.

"For us it's about winning one game," Flyers coach John Stevens said.

Philadelphia is trying to become just the third team in NHL history to rally from a three-games-to-none deficit. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders are the only other clubs to accomplish the feat.

While the Flyers' backs are against the wall, some of the pressure has shifted to the Penguins - and Philadelphia can relate.

The sixth-seeded Flyers know how hard it can be to close out a series. Philadelphia needed seven games to hold off the third-seeded Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals after holding a three-games-to-one lead.

"You've got to win four games," Lupul said. "If you go down to their (the Penguins) locker room, they'd say the same thing. The fourth game is the hardest to win. That is not just a cliche, that is just how it is."

The Flyers may get a boost from the return of All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who was originally slated to miss the entire series with blood clot in his left foot. Timonen skated on Saturday and will likely by a game-time decision.

Timonen's return would be significant. As the club's best defenseman, he was expected to shadow Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin - who terrorized the Flyers' defense in the first three games of the series.

In addition, defenseman Braydon Coburn - who was sidelined after being on the receiving end of a puck to the eye in Game Two - also skated on Saturday. He will also be a game-time decision.

The potential returns aside, Philadelphia is certainly facing an up-hill battle.

The Penguins, who are looking to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992, are back in their comfort zone. Captain Sidney Crosby and company are 15-0 here since a 2-1 shootout loss to San Jose on February 24.

"We want to play well there and finish it off," said Crosby, who has two goals and three assists in the series.

"We have to play better than we did tonight to give ourselves a chance. You don't go into a series expecting to win four in a row. We would have liked to have gotten it done, but we're going home. We've got a great opportunity there."

Game Six will be in Philadelphia on Tuesday if neccessary.