Boston beats Flyers for 3-0 series lead

Blake Wheeler, Miroslav Satan, Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron scored for Boston in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers that lifted the visiting Bruins to a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series last night.

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask allowed a quick goal at the start, but finished with 34 saves. The Bruins can complete the sweep in Game 4 in Philadelphia Friday night.

Wheeler and Satan scored 94 seconds apart in the first period to wipe out the Flyers' lead, and the Bruins never looked back. They won the first two games of the series at home.

Arron Asham scored for the Flyers.

The Flyers' first home playoff game since April 20 had an unusual vibe from the start. There were large patches of empty seats - mostly in the upper deck - and the normally rocking 20,000-plus was quiet.

Perhaps they sensed something. The Flyers did give their fans a quick jolt, scoring first when Asham flipped the puck under a sliding Rask's glove only 2:32 in.

It did more than give the Flyers the first lead of the game - it was their first lead of the series. But the Bruins took over from there, even as an injury forced David Krejci out. Krejci was leveled on a crushing hit from Flyers captain Mike Richards.

Blackhawks 5, Canucks 2

Dustin Byfuglien scored a pair of power-play, both on rebounds, and added an assist to lift the visiting Blackhawks, who took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.

Kris Versteeg, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane also scored, and Antti Niemi made 16 of his 31 saves in the first period.

Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows scored and Roberto Luongo made 30 saves for the Canucks, who will try to even the series when they host Game 4 Friday night.

- AP