Penguins on verge of sweep after 4-1 Game 3 win

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Keystone Clash crossed the state to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, but the game looked very similar to the previous two. The Penguins looked better in nearly every facet of the game, dominating the Flyers 4-1 in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

The Flyers were over-matched from the beginning when the Penguins got two quick goals in the first 8 minutes. The goals were a bit fluky with the first going in off a Jason Smith's foot and the second coming when Martin Biron was screened, but the Penguins managed to take the Flyers right out of the game. Philly responded with a goal by R.J. Umberger, but from there on they barely challenged Marc-Andre Fleury, finishing with a mere 18 shots. The Penguins sealed the victory with a goal halfway through the third period and an empty netter at the end of regulation.

It was a strange game that lacked any flow. The first period was a penalty-fest, with the refs calling four hooking penalties and handing out powerplays left and right. From then on, the refs swallowed the whistle, only choosing to call the Flyers for one more penalty for the rest of the game. The Flyers couldn't get anything going 5 on 5 and seemed to be waiting for another powerplay chance to get their offense going. That chance never came and by the time the Flyers tried to get anything going, it was too late.

Steve Downie will take much of the blame for making another terrible play tonight that led to the Penguins third goal. Downie made an ill-advised pass that was picked off by the Pens and they took it the other way for the back-breaking goal. Downie made a poor play in Game 2 that led to a Penguins goal but he can't totally be blamed for this loss. Granted, Downie screwed up, but it was a total team effort in losing tonight. Downie should find a seat in the stands for the next game, though, because there is no way he suits up.

Game Four is Thursday in Philadelphia. Teams have very rarely come back when down 0-3 in a series and there is nothing the Flyers are showing me that makes me think they will pull off the miracle. Losing Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn was simply too much for this team. Let's just hope they can avoid a sweep by winning the next one.

We can stick a fork in the Flyers and set our sights on the Phillies chances. The Flyers made a valiant effort this season which I will talk more about later, but they simply don't have the horses to compete with the Penguins.

Video highlights of the game, plus reactions from John Stevens and Mike Richards: