PHILADELPHIA -- The Penguins fell to the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-3, in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series today at Wachovia Center.

The Penguins lead the lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1 . Game 4 is Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

The Flyers scored on their first two shots in a fight-filled first period.

Center Jeff Carter opened the scoring on a play that started in the Penguins end when winger Scott Hartnell got the puck inside the blue line and worked it ahead to winger Joffrey Lupul. Carter took a feed from Lupul and put the puck over the right pad of Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at 2:59.

Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead on center Mike Richards' power-play goal at 5:14 of the first period with Penguins center Jordan Staal in the penalty box for holding defenseman Andre Alberts. Richards' centering pass aimed for linemate Simon Gagne appeared to go in off Penguins defenseman Hal Gill.

The Penguins cut their deficit in half when center Evgeni Malkin scored to the short side from the right circle with 11.7 seconds left in the first period.

Among the scraps were fights between wingers Chris Kunitz of the Penguins and Hartnell, after Kunitz hit Flyers top defenseman Kimmo Timonen behind the Philadelphia net; Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and Flyers winger Claude Giroux; and a tussle between Penguins winger Tyler Kennedy and Philadelphia forward Darroll Powe that earned them roughing penalties.

The Penguins struck quickly in the second period to tie it, 2-2. Defenseman Rob Scuderi took a pass from center Sidney Crosby and blasted a shot from the right point past the right foot of Biron at 0:13.

The Flyers regained the lead, 3-2, at 4:32 of the second period. Center Daniel Briere collected the bound of Powe's shot and drew Fleury to his right, then sent the puck across to Giroux, who had an open half of the net.

Philadelphia, which led the NHL in shorthanded goals during the season, got one to make it 4-2 at 8:58 of the second period. Giroux got the puck from the Penguins' power-play quarterback, Sergei Gonchar, behind the Penguins net and fed Gagne, who one-timed the puck from the upper right corner of the crease.

Center Jared Ross' first NHL goal increased the Flyers' lead to 5-2 at 3:42 of the third period. He lifted the puck over Fleury's left leg.

Malkin got his second goal, from just above the right dot, to pull the Penguins to within 5-3 at 8:30 of the third period.

Gagne added an empty-net goal for the Flyers at 18:24 of the third period.