It may have been a meaningless game in the standings, but the Pittsburgh Penguins finally defeated the Philadelphia Flyers at Consol Energy Center after previously going 0-5-0. Since a 3-1 win in Consol’s first game on October 7th, 2010, the Flyers have been able to call the new arena their second home, winning the first five games, all in regulation.
The Penguins got goals from Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, his 50th of the season, and coasted to a 4-2 win. More importantly, both teams avoided serious injuries before their playoff matchup in the upcoming week.
Early indications showed some carryover from the brawl that took place six days before. Joe Vitale, the culprit in injuring Daniel Briere and starting the brawl last Sunday, got into a fight with Harry Zolnierczyk just 2:22 into the game.
Three minutes later, Pascal Dupuis scored his 25th goal of the season and extended his point streak to 17 games. Arron Asham setup Dupuis for the slapshot that beat Sergei Bobrovsky. Asham retrieved the puck from the corner and was able to poke it towards Dupuis as he was falling down.
The Penguins had a golden opportunity to extend the lead after Zac Rinaldo took a five minute major and game misconduct for boarding Zbynek Michalek. But it would be the Flyers who got the next goal.
After killing the five minute major, the Flyers tied the score at one in the last minute of the first period. Zolnierczyk’s shot from the point was kicked out by Marc-Andre Fleury, but Brayden Schenn pounced on the rebound and wired a shot into the top left corner of the net.
Chris Kunitz put the Penguins back on top 7:15 into the second period, scoring his career high 26th goal of the season. After cycling the puck down low to Evgeni Malkin, Kunitz received the return pass in the right face-off circle and put the puck on net. The puck slowly trickled past Bobrovsky and laid on the ice just past the goal line.
Coach Dan Bylsma elected to pull Marc-Andre Fleury with the lead in an attempt to rest his starting net minder while giving him the chance to move ahead of Tom Barrasso in franchise wins.
Former Penguin Jarmoir Jagr, who played alongside Barrasso in the 90’s, stuffed in a wrap around to tie the score at two. Fleury’s backup, Brent Johnson, would go on to make the next five saves.
After giving up the power play goal to Jagr, the Penguins got a power play goal of their own from Sidney Crosby. Chris Kunitz attempted a backhand pass to Evgeni Malkin but the puck hit a skate and caromed in the opposite direction. Bobrovsky was caught out of position as the puck landed on Crosby’s stick, and the Penguin captain backhanded a shot over the outstretched glove of Bobrovsky.
Two minutes later, the Penguins scored again and nearly knocked the roof off of Consol.
Kris Letang took a neutral zone pass from Sidney Crosby to lead a 4 on 3 rush, dropped the puck back to Evgeni Malkin who fired a wrist shot past the stick side of Bobrovsky. Malkin skated down the near boards and gave a giant fist pump as Chris Kunitz picked up the puck to give to the 25 year old soon-to-be two-time Art Ross winner.
From there, the Penguins locked down the game, defensively, limiting Philadelphia to five shots in the final period.
- Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis combined for 141 of Pittsburgh’s 282 goals.
- Penguins’ 108 points is second most in team history behind the 92-93 Penguins (119).
- Sidney Crosby has 12 points (4 G, 8A) in his last five games.
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! sports
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