Penguins top Flyers, take 2-0 series lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins scored twice in the third period to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.

Max Talbot, who had missed three post-season games with a broken right foot, delivered the game-winner.

"When the third or fourth line gets a big goal like that, it definitely feels good," Talbot, a fourth-line forward, told reporters after his score 8:51 into the third.

Jordan Staal's empty-netter with 29 seconds left wrapped up the victory in the heated contest between the two Pennsylvania teams.

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist and Marian Hossa claimed the Penguins' other goal, both scores coming on powerplays.

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar assisted on three scores. He missed another when officials denied Crosby a second-period goal off a Gonchar shot, ruling that the puck had not crossed the line.

Jeff Carter countered Crosby's first-period goal with a powerplay score 5:46 into the second for Philadelphia.

After Hossa made it 2-1 to Pittsburgh 13:43 into the second, Mike Richards scored the equalizer for Philadelphia on a breakaway with 24 seconds left in the period.

Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves for the victory. Martin Biron stopped 34 shots for Philadelphia.

Game Three of the best-of-seven series is in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Ed Osmond)