Philadelphia Flyers fans throw trash on ice during NHL playoff loss to Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Brehm | USA TODAY

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Philadelphia Flyers fans had a good reason to throw objects on the ice with a little more than three minutes left in Sunday's Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sean Couturier, the Game 5 hero, had just completed a hat trick to cut the deficit to 7-5, and hats were tossed onto the ice.

But when it was clear that the Flyers would be unable to come back from their third-period meltdown and were going to be eliminated in Game 6, some Philadelphia fans' hatred of the cross-state rival Penguins spilled into inappropriateness as trash was thrown onto the ice.

"Just watch it," NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said on the broadcast. "There's heavy artillery flying all over down here. Beer cans and everything. ... Players are huddling here."

Fans were frustrated with the officiating, but throwing items on the ice, of course, is dangerous because players (home and away) could be hit or could trip and injure themselves. NBC broadcasters took the fans to task and said those found to be throwing trash should be thrown out of the game.

The Flyers' public address announcer had to warn fans to stop.

Asked Sid about having all the beer cans thrown at him: "Those things were full. What a waste. Guess they have to be full to throw them that far." — Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) April 22, 2018

The early part of the barrage led indirectly to another Penguins goal. A towel was on the ice in front of Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov when he gave away the puck to Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust. Provorov couldn't get into position and Rust scored an empty-netter to make the score 8-5.

More: Penguins far from perfect but find ways to win

More: Flyers' Sean Couturier starred in Games 5 and 6 with torn MCL

The two-time defending champion Penguins are heading to the next round. And the Flyers and their fans are starting their offseason.