The Penguins have been criticized, both internally and externally, for their lack of effort and intensity in losing back-to-back games to the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets last week.
The Penguins had no lack of effort in Sunday afternoon’s rematch in Philadelphia. They dominated the Flyers up and down the ice at even strength, but they couldn’t put enough pucks past Flyers goaltender Steve Mason and gave up a pair of power play goals en route to a 4-1 beating at the hands of their cross-state rivals.
The Penguins outshot the Flyers 47-20, but it was Mason, and several posts that conspired to the keep the Penguins off the board for most of the afternoon.
Brandon Sutter connected with his 19th goal of the season on a turning shot from the goal line at 16:21 of the first. It was his third power play goal of the season. David Perron and Ian Cole assisted. Cole now has points in four straight games.
An unwise crosschecking penalty by Daniel Winnik late in the first period gave the Flyers an opportunity after being dominated through the first 20 minutes. Jakub Voracek made the Penguins pay with a one-timed slap shot from the top of the right wing faceoff circle at 19:18. Mark Streit and Brayden Schenn assisted.
In the second period, the Penguins again took the play to the Flyers, outshooting Philadelphia 14-9, but it was again the power play – and a great deal of luck – that gave the Flyers an advantage. Brayden Schenn deflected a puck that soared high over Penguins goaltender Thomas Greiss, landed in the goal crease behind him, and slid across the goal line. It was Schenn’s third goal against the Penguins this week with assists from Voracek and Streit.
The Penguins couldn’t get any luck of their own, as a great chance just seconds later hit the post behind Mason.
In the third, it was more of the same, with the Penguins again holding the advantage at even strength, but a Ryan White wrister at 15:05 gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead and another power play goal by Michael del Zotto at 19:50 gave the Flyers their final 4-1 advantage.
The Flyers finished 3-for-4 on the power play and scored four their four goals on just 20 shots on goal. It wasn’t a banner night for Greiss, who had excellent career numbers against the Flyers coming in, but had only a .800 save percentage.
Mason, meanwhile, continued his candidacy for the best goaltender in the league, as he saw his already-outstanding .928 save percentage tick up even further.
The Flyers have now won eight consecutive games over the Penguins and swept the season series for the first time since 1983-84.
Photo credit: NHLI/Getty Images
