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Philadelphia • Claude Giroux had his coach call him the best player in the world. Giroux needed one shift to prove that claim is more than hometown hype.
He flattened Sidney Crosby only 5 seconds into the game, buried his sixth goal of the series past Marc-Andre Fleury 27 seconds later, and led a Philadelphia Flyers charge into the second round.
Giroux wrapped up a dominant series with a goal and two assists, Ilya Bryzgalov had his first outstanding effort in net, and the Flyers beat the 108-point Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 on Sunday to win their Eastern Conference first-round series in six games.
"G is a very special player," Bryzgalov said. "There's not very many players like that in the world."
Bryzgalov allowed 20 goals in the first five games. He settled down in Game 6 and gave up only Evgeni Malkin's goal in the second period.
Kings 2, Canucks 1 (OT) • Jarret Stoll beat Cory Schneider with a wrist shot at 4:27 of overtime, and visiting Los Angeles knocking out top-seeded Vancouver in five games in the Western Conference series. Brad Richardson tied it for Los Angeles at 3:21 of the third period.
Bruins 4, Capitals 3 (OT) • Tyler Seguin scored at 3:17 of overtime, Tim Thomas made 36 saves, and defending Stanley Cup champion Boston beat host Washington to force a seventh game in the Eastern Conference series. —
Schedule
Sunday
Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 1
Philadelphia wins series 4-2
Boston 4, Washington 3 (OT)
Series tied 3-3
Los Angeles 2, Vancouver 1 (OT) Los Angeles wins series 4-1
Monday
NY Rangers at Ottawa, 5 p.m. Ottawa leads series 3-2
Phoenix at Chicago, 7 p.m. Phoenix leads series 3-2
Tuesday
Florida at New Jersey, 5:30 p.m. Florida leads series 3-2