The Flyers scored early and often against the Penguins and turned the game into a laugher by the second intermission in Philadelphia.
The Penguins failed to get anything going offensively after learning that Chris Kunitz would not be playing earlier in the day. His absence, paired with James Neal’s concussion, gave an already injured Penguins team more players to add to the list.
Scott Hartnell scored on the power play 3:50 into the first period. Hartnell received a pass from Claude Giroux and ripped a one-timer past Marc-Andre Fleury from the left wing circle.
The Penguins received the next two power plays but were dreadful on each of them. The first power play nearly resulted in a shorthanded goal and the second power play led to a shorthanded goal by Matt Read. Sean Couturier picked Matt Niskanen’s pocket, went behind the Penguins net, and found Read in the middle of the slot for a one-timer.
Late in the second period, Luke Schenn found Vincent Lecavalier with speed over the attacking blue line. Lecavalier split the defense and beat Marc-Andre Fleury top shelf to give Philly a 3-0 lead.
With less than 17 seconds remaining in the second period, Matt Read scored again to put the game away. The Flyers came with a 3 on 2 rush. Couterier passed to Giroux who passed back to Couturier who then fed Read streaking down the far post for the tap in.
The Penguins were close to scoring when a Deryk Engelland shot rang off the post in the third period but didn’t get any closer.
Three Stars
- Matt Read
- Sean Couturier
- Luke Schenn
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
