NHL Playoffs 2011: Milan Lucic Leads Bruins to East Finals with Sweep of Flyers

Milan Lucic scored his first two goals of the 2011 NHL playoffs to help the Boston Bruins sweep the Philadelphia Flyers and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992. 

The Bruins finished off the Flyers by a score of 5-1 to complete the sweep, avenging last year's heartbreaking series loss to Philly when the Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead and were sent home after losing in seven games.

The Bruins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but due to NHL rules, the series will not begin until all other playoff series around the league are completed.

The Lightning also swept its second-round series, demolishing the top-seeded Washington Capitals in every facet of the game.

Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, who has played phenomenal in the playoffs, stopped 22 of 23 shots.

After a first-period power play goal by Milan Lucic, just the second power play goal of the playoffs for Boston, Flyers forward Kris Versteeg tied the game with a four-on-four goal in the second period.

A Johnny Boychuk slapshot just minutes into the third period put the Bruins up for good. Lucic would add another goal with about five minutes left to play, and empty net goals just minutes later from Daniel Paille and Brad Marchand would complete the scoring.

The Bruins defense played very well in Game 4. Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference, Boychuk and captain Zdeno Chara anchored a strong Boston defensive corps that helped Vezina Trophy finalist Thomas allow just two goals in Games 3 and 4 in Boston.