GIF Rewind: Giroux and Couturier score filthy shootout goals to beat Penguins

The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout on Thursday night. It’s always good to beat the Penguins.

The Flyers played pretty well overall. Carter Hart made 31 saves on 32 shots and Jakub Voracek scored to tie the game in the third period. Both teams had some chances, but the goaltenders were strong in this one.

Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier scored filthy goals in the shootout to win it for the Flyers.

First period

It was a rather uneventful start to the game in the first period. After an uninspiring effort throughout Tuesday night’s loss, the Flyers didn’t look too much more interested in Pittsburgh. There was a definite increase in effort, but there wasn’t exactly a high bar there.

The top line had an early scoring chance and put pressure on, but nothing came of it.

The Penguins’ best chance early on came as a result of Carter Hart trying to do to much. He played the puck just in front of the corner of the trapezoid and tried to bank it behind the net. However, the puck was quickly picked up by Jeff Carter, who missed on a wraparound attempt.

Wade Allison was making his NHL debut and he had a pretty good start. He created a turnover and prime scoring chance for Oskar Lindblom early on.

In a slow first period, Joel Farabee took a penalty. It was an opportunity for the Penguins to try to get something going, but the Flyers completely shut them down. As a matter of fact, the Penguins didn’t get a shot on goal in the first half of the period.

After killing off the Penguins’ power play, they got a power play of their own. Claude Giroux drew a tripping penalty on Tristan Jarry and the Flyers headed to the man advantage.

It wasn’t much better than the Penguins’ two minutes, however, and it ended with Pittsburgh drawing a penalty and getting their first shot of the game.

The Penguins’ second power play was a bit more dangerous, but it was another strong kill for the Flyers.

Overall, it was a rather boring first period.

Second period

Things picked up a bit in the second period, at least for the Penguins.

After having just three shots on goal in the first period, Pittsburgh had five shots in the first three minutes of the second period. It was looking like the Penguins would completely take over in the middle frame.

However, the Flyers, despite playing poorly, survived with just one goal allowed. That one goal hurt, though.

Sidney Crosby grabbed a stick off the bench and slid the puck past Hart. This came after Hart kicked the puck back in front of him and whiffed on a poke check. It was a sequence to forget for Hart.

Carter Hart didn’t make many mistakes besides that. In fact, he was pretty strong otherwise. But that one goal had the Penguins on the board.

There was some Carter (Hart) on Carter (, Jeff) crime.

Jeff Carter had plenty of chances against his former team, but Hart won the individual battle of the Carters.

The Flyers turned it up a bit in the second half of the period.

On the power play, Wade Allison nearly scored his first NHL goal, but Tristan Jarry had the answer.

It was an impressive play by Allison to get the puck on net from in close.

Travis Konecny beat Jarry with a shot, but the puck fell on the goal line. The Flyers couldn’t get the puck into the back of the net through a mass of humanity.

The Flyers continued to push, but they trailed 1-0 after two periods of play.

Third period

Trailing after two periods is a familiar position for the Flyers. However, this time they were able to tie it early.

Just 84 seconds into the period, Jakub Voracek tied the game.

Voracek picked up the puck, walked in, and went five-hole on Jarry to tie it up.

Then, a few minutes later, there was a scary situation on the ice. Nolan Patrick was hit in the head by a shot and was forced to leave the game. He did not return.

Wade Allison impressed all game long and nearly scored yet again, but he was denied.

The Penguins had a great chance in front later in the period, but Hart made a tremendous save.

Highway robbery.

The Flyers and Penguins went back-and-forth in the period with both teams getting away with things. Then, with 2:52 left in the period, a holding penalty was called on Konecny.

The penalty kill struggled all year, but they’ve been hot and cold recently. They were hot tonight and killed it off.

Overtime

It was all Penguins in overtime for the first three minutes. Then, Sean Couturier took possession of the puck and forced Sidney Crosby to take a tripping penalty with 1:57 left.

This was the Flyers’ chance, but they beat themselves on the power play. They missed the net twice on shots with the puck rimming around and out of the zone.

The game headed to a shootout.

Shootout

Jake Guentzel went backhand and scored five-hole on Carter Hart to open the shootout. Then, the Flyers went to work and Hart shut the door.

Claude Giroux scored a filthy goal to tie the shootout at one.

Then, Sean Couturier may have one-upped him with his beauty.

Hart made two glove saves to end the shootout and win the game for the Flyers.

The Flyers may be out of the playoff picture, but it’s always fun to beat the Penguins.