Flyers thank Bryan Rust for game-changing momentum

Playoffs tend to bring out more emotions than a normal game. The stakes are higher, the crowd is louder, and every play matters that much more. It also means that the physicality ramps up more than a few notches.

Players are landing hits harder than they would in the months prior. Post-whistle scrums are almost a guarantee to happen multiple times in a game. Teams will look for any way to take an advantage. But sometimes, doing something what you think will spark your team ends up working in the opposite direction.

And that’s exactly what happened for Bryan Rust. After Stuart Skinner froze the puck, Rust and Travis Konecny were tangled up behind the net. Konecny’s elbow goes toward Rust’s face, and the latter loses it, slamming Konecny to the ice. He keeps him pinned down, taking repeated shots at his head and pushing him down onto the ice.

As things began to calm down, Konecny was willing to settle things by dropping the gloves. But once Rust was pulled away, he had no intention of getting involved again. The chaos ended with every skater on the ice being taken to the box for roughing. Rust was given a double-minor, leading to the Flyers' power play.

And they made sure to make Rust and the Penguins pay.

Flyers take over with goal-scoring frenzy in second period

With 10 players apiece in the box, the moment was there for the Flyers. Emotions were high, and the crowd was on its feet. This was their first look at playoff hockey in nearly 10 years. They wanted and needed something to send them over the edge. Facing a deficit for the first time in the series, there was no better opportunity for the Flyers to deliver.

How about three goals on their next five shots? First, Trevor Zegras got things going on the ensuing power play, which was perfect enough to prove that Rust angered the wrong people. It was a seeing-eye one-time that flew over the glove of Skinner. And it made perfect sense to celebrate with the players who made it all happen. But that wasn't enough. It was a couple of unlikely sources that poured things on for Philadelphia.

Rasmus Ristolainen is one of the many Flyers making their postseason debut, though his took nearly 820 games. So it’s fitting that his goal put the team on top. Back in the offensive zone, Noah Juulsen ripped a pass across the ice to Ristolainen, who was cutting in all alone at the right faceoff dot. He took a few strides in and blew one through the five-hole of Skinner. That was less than two minutes after Zegras' tying goal.

How about one more for good measure? Just over two minutes after Ristolainen's goal, another defenseman decided to join the party. Nick Seeler epitomizes what it means to play in Philadelphia. He is more than willing to put his body on the line at all times, and he has eaten some tough pucks. So when he finds a way to get on the scoresheet, it just means more.

The Flyers have a chance to put the Penguins on the ropes and head into Saturday with a chance to sweep. Can't say anyone expected this series to go the way it has. But the Flyers have gotten in the Penguins' heads and are using it to their advantage.

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