Copyright Getty Images

Joffrey Lupul’s sudden death power play tally at 6:06 made the Flyers 3-2 Game Seven winners over the Capitals at Verizon Center.

The right wing’s hustle kept a loose puck alive. He was rewarded when teammate Daniel Briere’s one-timer was blocked going right to Kimmo Timonen, who blasted a shot which Washington netminder Cristobal Huet couldn’t control allowing Lupul to flip a backhand into an open side for the series clincher.

It was Lupul’s first of this postseason and biggest as it allowed the Flyers to prevail in seven games and advance to an Eastern Conference Semifinal against top seeded Montreal.

Former Ranger defenseman Tom Poti got called for a late trip handing Philadelphia a man-advantage. Minutes earlier, teammate John Erskine committed a more egregious foul in the same area of the ice which would’ve led to a two-on-one against. You have to wonder if maybe it was a make up call. Poti did commit a penalty but it wasn’t anything blatant and the call came way late.

It doesn’t matter now as the Caps couldn’t kill the remaining nine seconds for Poti. All they needed was one clear but it never came and Lupul turned into a Flyer hero.

So, the Eastern Conference semi match-ups are all set:

(1) Montreal vs (6) Philadelphia-Game One is Thursday night

(2) Pittsburgh vs (5) New York Rangers- Game One is Friday night

The Sharks are hosting the Flames in the other deciding first round game and lead 1-0 on a Joe Thornton power play goal.

If San Jose prevails, they’ll face the Stars in the next round while top seeded Detroit would renew an old rivalry with Colorado. If Calgary comes back to win, they would visit the Red Wings while Colorado and Dallas would meet.

Just as I said that, the Flames just knotted this game at 1-1 via a PPG by Jarome Iginla.

We’ll update what happens after.