5 Keys: Flyers at Penguins, Game 5

FLYERS at PENGUINS
7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, NBCSP
Pittsburgh leads best-of-7 series, 3-1
PITTSBURGH --The Pittsburgh Penguins hope to close out the Eastern Conference First Round with a win against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.

After losing 5-1 at home in Game 2, Pittsburgh won Games 3 and 4 at Wells Fargo Center by a combined score of 10-1. The Flyers will have to find a way to slow the Penguins attack if they hope to keep their season going.
RELATED: [Complete Penguins vs. Flyers series coverage]
Teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-7 series are 269-28 (90.6 percent) all time, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Penguins are 14-3 in series when they have a 3-1 lead (82.4 percent).
Here are 5 keys for Game 5:

1. Couturier's status

Flyers center Sean Couturier will be a game-time decision after missing Game 4 with a lower-body injury sustained while colliding with defenseman Radko Gudas during practice Tuesday. If Couturier does not play, the Flyers could use center Valtteri Filppula between left wing Claude Giroux and right wing Jakub Voracek.
Couturier said he expects to take warmups.
Despite missing Game 4, Couturier leads the Flyers with three points (one goal, two assists) this series. If he's in the lineup, he could provide the boost they need. If not, someone else must step up.
"I felt pretty good. I felt better than yesterday," Couturier said after participating in an optional morning skate. "I'm still hoping [to play]."

2. Crosby staying hot

With two points (one goal, one assist) in Game 4, Sidney Crosby reached 173 points (62 goals, 111 assists) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to pass Mario Lemieux (172) for the most in Penguins history. Crosby has nine points (five goals, four assists) in four games.
Crosby's five goals are one fewer than he had in 24 games during the 2016 playoffs and three fewer than he had in 24 games in 2017. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in each of those two postseasons.
If Crosby continues to produce at this pace, the Penguins could advance to the Eastern Conference Second Round.
"The way he's playing right now, you can tell he's driven and focused," first-line left wing Jake Guentzel said. "As a person on the team, you're happy to see that because we know he can lead the way."

3. Flyers starter uncertain

Philadelphia's starting goalie is a game-time decision, coach Dave Hakstol said.
Brian Elliott could start after allowing three goals on 17 shots before being pulled at 8:04 of the second period in Game 4. Michal Neuvirth made 11 saves on 13 shots in relief.
Elliott has a 4.74 goals-against average and .856 save percentage in four starts. If he starts, he will likely be backed up by Neuvirth, who had been out with a lower-body injury since March 28 before returning in Game 4.
Petr Mrazek, who allowed two goals on 14 shots in relief of Elliott in Game 1, will likely be scratched.

4. Murray's got his groove back

Except for a disappointing performance in Game 2, when he allowed four goals on 19 shots, Penguins goaltender Matt Murray has found his form. He has shut out the Flyers twice, with 24 saves in Game 1 and 26 in Game 4, and allowed one goal on 26 shots in Game 3.
After struggling through an injury-plagued regular season, when he went 27-16-3 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .907 save percentage, Murray is third in the NHL with a 1.27 GAA and fourth with a .948 save percentage in the playoffs. If that continues in Game 5, the Penguins could end the series.
"He's obviously been awesome for us," defenseman Olli Maatta said. "They've had moments where they've pushed hard, and I think he's kept us in it and given us a chance to come back."

5. Getting Giroux going

After finishing second behind Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (108 points) with 102 points (34 goals, 68 assists) in the regular season, Giroux has yet to score a goal in the playoffs. He has one assist and is minus-7.
Giroux has no goals and two assists in his past 10 postseason games since April 14, 2016. Philadelphia can't afford for him to remain dormant much longer.

Flyers projected lineup

Claude Giroux -- Valtteri Filppula -- Jakub Voracek
Oskar Lindblom -- Nolan Patrick -- Travis Konecny
Matt Read -- Jori Lehtera -- Wayne Simmonds
Jordan Weal -- Scott Laughton -- Michael Raffl
Ivan Provorov -- Andrew MacDonald
Robert Hagg -- Shayne Gostisbehere
Brandon Manning -- Radko Gudas
Brian Elliott
Michal Neuvirth
Scratched:Taylor Leier, Dale Weise, Johnny Oduya, Petr Mrazek, Travis Sanheim
Injured:Sean Couturier (lower body)

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Dominik Simon
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeni Malkin -- Phil Kessel
Conor Sheary -- Derick Brassard -- Bryan Rust
Zach Aston-Reese -- Riley Sheahan -- Tom Kuhnhackl
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Justin Schultz
Jamie Oleksiak -- Chad Ruhwedel
Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith
Scratched:Matt Hunwick
Injured:Patric Hornqvist (upper body), Carter Rowney (upper body)

Status report

Hagg is expected to make his postseason debut in place of Sanheim, who scored one goal in the first four games. … Hornqvist, who wore a no-contact jersey during the morning skate, will miss his second straight game. He remains day to day. … The Penguins reassigned forward Josh Jooris to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.