In case you forgot why the Penguins-Flyers rivalry is considered the best in the NHL, this game was an exciting reminder. The Penguins came back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Flyers 5-4 at the Wachovia Center, Thursday night.
The Flyers dominated every facet of the game in the first period, intiating contact, out shooting the Pens 18-4, and outscoring the Pens 4-1. Jakub Voracek gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead, scoring on the power play after James Neal took an elbowing penalty. Voracek finished a beautiful cross-ice feed from Claude Giroux. James Neal came out of the box and was sent back in for roughing Scott Hartnell. Since Hartnell instigated the scuffle, he was given an extra penalty and the Penguins were granted a power play.
Pittsburgh took advantage on the tail end of the power play, getting a goal from Chris Kunitz. Letang’s attempted centering pass off the rush hit a defenseman and the puck came right to Kunitz who buried his 13th of the season.
From there, it was all downhill for Pittsburgh in the first period.
Matt Niskanen took an interference penalty and Zac Rinaldo scored as the penalty expired to put the Flyers up 2-1. Rinaldo pounced on a rebound in front of Marc-Andre Fleury after Nicklas Grossman’s slap shot from the point was stopped.
Kimmo Timonen scored three minutes later on a harmless wrist shot from the half boards. Fleury was partially screened on the play by Deryk Engelland and the puck fluttered through the goaltender short side.
James Neal took a penalty before the end of the period and Voracek added another goal to put the Flyers up 4-1 with eight seconds remaining. The goal was reviewed to see if Scott Hartnell kicked the puck, but the call stood.
The Penguins came out with a new goaltender and, out of coincidence, a better period.
Pascal Dupuis scored five minutes in to cut the Flyer lead in half. After a net-mouth scramble in front of Ilya Bryzgalov, Sidney Crosby circled behind the net and found Dupuis in front with a wide open cage.
James Neal added a goal less than three minutes later, his 15th of the year. But it was the rookie, Beau Bennett, who made the play happen. Bennett outmuscled Wayne Simmonds for the puck and sent a pass to James Neal by the half-boards. Neal quickly fired a sharp angle shot with Evgeni Malkin driving to the net, and the puck went off of defenseman Braden Coburn and in the net.
Late in the second period, Tyler Kennedy scored to tie the game at four a piece. The Penguins’ third line continued to work hard in the offensive zone and it resulted in Matt Cooke setting up Kennedy for the one-timer. Bryzgalov never saw the puck as he was being screened by Brandon Sutter in front. After the goal, the Flyers pulled Bryzgalov for Brian Boucher.
It didn’t help the Flyers in the third period as Chris Kunitz scored 18 seconds in to give the Penguins their first lead. The Flyers came close to tying the score a few times in the final frame, but the Penguins responded with one of their best defensive periods of the season. Scott Hartnell deflected a puck into the net but the play was immediately waved off due to a high stick playing the puck.
With the win, the Penguins moved nine points ahead of the Flyers with a game in hand, while staying five points ahead of the New Jersey Devils for first in the Atlantic Division.
- Per ROOT Sports, the last time the Penguins came back from a 4-1 deficit and won was April 1st, 1973.
- Jakub Voracek has 12 points in 13 games against the Penguins; he has five goals in his last two games vs. Pittsburgh.
- Sidney Crosby has 14 points (4 g, 10 a) over his last six games.
Three Stars
- Chris Kunitz
- Jakub Voracek
- Sidney Crosby
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
