Early goals enough for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Philadelphia.

There was no love lost between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers in their third matchup of the season. The Penguins jumped out to a comfortable lead before the contest deteriorated to something closer related to a UFC match than a hockey game.

The Penguins and Flyers combined for 24 penalty minutes, all minor penalties, thanks to a pair of physical hits from the Flyers on Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. In the end, the Penguins collected the victory and moved into a four-way tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Goal Recap

(PIT 1-0) Rickard Rakell (5): Evgeni Malkin (20) & Jake Guentzel (26) *PP

(PIT 2-0) Erik Karlsson (7): Jansen Harkins (3) & Jeff Carter (2)

(PIT 2-1) Owen Tippett (13): Egor Zamula (7) & Joel Farabee (18) *PP

(PIT 3-1) Chad Ruhwedel (1): Bryan Rust (12) & Ryan Graves (5)

(PIT 4-1) Evgeni Malkin (15): Drew O'Connor (9)

Three Stars

3. Carter Hart

This game could've been much more one-sided without Carter Hart's heroics. Hart ended the night with 35 saves on 39 Penguins shots, including a handful of highlight reel stops on Drew O'Connor.

2. Drew O'Connor

Drew O'Connor was back in the Penguins top six for this game after switching places with Reilly Smith during their last game. O'Connor's physical play withstood in this rivalry matchup, and his early third-period jolt helped put the final nail in the Flyers' coffin.

He was stopped by Hart on a partial breakaway that led to a bevy of scoring chances. However, O'Connor broke through shortly after, drawing multiple Flyers defenders to his position on the right half wall before dumping a perfect pass onto Evgeni Malkin's stick for the Penguins fourth goal of the evening.

1. Alex Nedeljkovic

Alex Nedeljkovic started for the seventh time in the Penguins' last ten games. He had been rock solid for the Penguins until a rough night in Boston in his most recent start.

Nedejkovic bounced back in a big way, stopping 36 of 37 Flyers shots and allowing only four rebound shots.

The Penguins have another tough test coming up as they take on the Vancouver Canucks at PPG Paints Arena.

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