Penguins Outlast Flyers in Physical Matchup
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers combined for 24 penalty minutes in a physical affair in Philadelphia.
The Pittsburgh Penguins traveled east to take on division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins and Flyers matched up twice in three days back in December, both games needing extra time, with the Flyers taking both contests just over a month ago.
Mike Sullivan turned back to Alex Nedeljkovic in goal, starting his seventh game in the last ten for the Penguins.
Sullivan also made a minor adjustment on the left wing, sliding Drew O'Connor onto the second line and dropping Reilly Smith down into the bottom six.
First Period
The Penguins started the game on the right foot, drawing a penalty 28 seconds in. They made quick work of the #2 ranked Flyers penalty kill. Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell connected down low to put the Penguins up 1-0 early.
Rakell's goal extends the Penguins' power play goal streak to four games.
Just under seven minutes later, the Penguins' fourth line finished a physical shift with a goal from Erik Karlsson. Jansen Harkins was leveled by Flyers forward Nic Deslauriers. Jeff Carter returned the favor and, in doing so, regained possession.
Shortly after, the puck found Karlsson at the point, and with two Penguins parked in front of Carter Hart, he deposited it into the top right corner of the net making it 2-0 Penguins.
Jansen Harkins took his second penalty of the night with five minutes remaining. Owen Tippett found an open lane to beat Alex Nedeljkovic to get the Flyers on the board and cut the Penguins lead to 2-1.
The Penguins finished a hectic first period with a 2-1 lead and outshot the Flyers 17-13 but finished the frame 1-5 on the power play.
Second Period
The Penguins and Flyers exchanged scoring chances early in the second period, but Nedeljkovic and Hart stood tall.
Chad Ruhwedel extended the Penguins' lead to 3-1 eight minutes into the frame. Ruhwedel took advantage of a Flyers forward screening Hart and shuffled the puck through his legs for his first goal of the season.
Things got physical midway through the period when Flyers forward Scott Laughton collided with Sidney Crosby at center ice. Kris Letang took exception to the contact, and on the following shift, the Penguins' fourth line went hard to the net, causing the teams to meet in the crease and exchange a few punches.
Third Period
Drew O'Connor opened the third period with a trio of glorious chances, but Carter Hart kept the Flyers within two goals.
A few minutes later, O'Connor drew a pair of Flyers to him in the offensive zone before dishing the puck to Evgeni Malkin. Malkin beat Hart to his blocker side to extend the Penguins lead to 4-1.
Alex Nedeljkovic made that stand, saving 36 of 37 shots and bouncing back in a big way from allowing five goals to the Bruins in his last outing.
The Penguins end the night tied with three other teams for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with 44 points. They'll be back in action later this week against the Vancouver Canucks.
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