April 12, 2012

Flyers forward Danny Briere scores on Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during Game 1 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series in Pittsburgh, Penn., April 11, 2012. (JASON COHN/Reuters)

PITTSBURGH - Daniel Briere’s grin said it all.

He wouldn’t come out and admit he was the hockey equivalent of a mile offside when he opened the scoring for the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night, but he wasn’t fooling anyone.

“In my mind, I was good,” said Briere, who certainly didn’t hesitate on the play. “I had no clue. I didn’t even think about it. I heard their bench kind of yell but that was the first time I had a clue.”

At the time -- 6:22 into the second period -- Briere’s goal seemed innocent enough as the Penguins were still in control with a 3-1 lead. But when he scored again midway through the third on a shot Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury should have had, it was game on.