Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Friday Night's 3 Stars

One team stayed alive, another fell.

The Pittsburgh Penguins extended their series with the Philadelphia Flyers to six games in their quest to make history by coming back from a 0-3 deficit. What was most impressive about their victory is that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were both scoreless in their win. They got help from everybody else.

Down south, the Nashville Predators eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in five games and advancing to the second round for the second time in as many years. They were led by strong goaltending by Pekka Rinne and a stingy defense all series long, and it certainly is amazing to see hockey alive and well in the honkytonks of Nashville.

Here are a few honorable mentions from tonight's games:

Pekka Rinne: The Nashville goaltender was stellar again in a 21-save performance and he survived an onslaught late in the third to lead the Preds past the Red Wings.

Alexander Radulov: The winger, who defected from the KHL, has been a welcome addition to the Nashville lineup. He scored a goal and added an assist in Game 5 and recorded five points in Nashville's series win.

Tyler Kennedy: Kennedy's goal broke a 2-2 tie and the Penguins never looked back. He followed up his goal with a huge celebration, jumping into the glass with glee.

3. Jordan Staal

Jordan Staal's playoff dominance continued as he scored a wicked goal on a high shot from the slot to even the score at two.

He later assisted on Tyler Kennedy's goal to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Staal also did a great job on the penalty kill, and it seems like the team is getting their swagger back heading to Philadelphia for Game 6.

Staal's six goals lead the NHL in the playoffs. 

2. David Legwand

David Legwand is the longest-tenured Nashville Predator. He's been there through the ups and downs ever since they came into the league over a decade ago.

For that reason, it's kind of fitting that he recorded the game-winning goal early in the third period. Legwand also added an assist on Alexander Radulov's earlier goal to propel the Predators to the second round. 

1. Marc-Andre Fleury

Considering that the Penguins have scored 26 goals in this series, it's easy to see that the team could've possibly swept the Philadelphia Flyers had Marc-Andre Fleury played the way he did tonight.

After allowing two power-play goals in the first period, Fleury settled down in the last two periods and survived a barrage of Flyers opportunities. He was the team's best penalty killer and one could tell from his body language that he has confidence and swagger back.

That, folks, is something the Flyers don't want to hear.