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5 Takeaways: Flyers Fall as Penguins Pour It on Late

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Carter Hart
Carter Hart did all he could to keep the Philadelphia Flyers in the game until the third periods against the Penguins.

The Philadelphia Flyers came into this game trying to impress interim general manager Danny Briere.

In some facets of the game, they accomplished that in a Saturday afternoon game in Pittsburgh. But once again Sidney Crosby was the best player on the ice, and led his team to a 5-1 win.

“A 2-1 game until the end. It appears that they spank us but chances were about even. I thought our structure was good,” said John Tortorella. “Had some chances but couldn’t find a way to score.”

The game was much closer than the final score suggests.

Jason Zucker deflected a puck that snuck through Carter Hart’s pads, giving the Penguins a 3-1 lead with 5:36 left in regulation. The Penguins added two more goals, one on an empty-netter.

Down by two the Flyers went empty net with well over two minutes left in the game.

The Flyers finished 0-3 on the road trip, getting outscored, 11-3. They have lost 11 of their last 13 games

1. The Flyers’ power play is still a source of disappointment.

Tyson Foerster drew a penalty with some nice corner work. The power play had some movement and a few shots but not much else.

The power play has been a sore spot all season. It’s the worst in the league and there’s no excuse for that. It’s about the system and not always about the talent on the ice.

On one power play, Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith made a huge stick save on a great Owen Tippett shot and it ended up hitting the crossbar.

The Flyers had more shots, but still no results. They are 3 for 38 in their last 18 games.

Gulp.

2. Carter Hart had a mixed-bag game.

He robbed Brian Dumolin with a great glove same about a minute after Kieffer Bellows’ gift goal tied the score at 1-1.

The Flyers outshot the Penguins 14-6 in the first period, but Pittsburgh’s early chances were weathered by Hart — and that was important to the flow of the game for the Flyers.

In the first shift of the second period, the Pens had a great chance, but Hart kept the game tied.  Hart also robbed former Flyers Jeff Carter on a shorthanded chance late in the second period. He’d like to have the third goal back. And the fifth was probably on him as well.

3. The Penguins drew the first penalties of the game.

The Penguins had some chances early on the first power play, but the Flyers’ penalty kill settled down and killed it off. It was an important kill and the Flyers had some jump afterward as a result.

Less than 30 seconds after the kill, Foerster high-sticked Brian Dumolin in the mouth, and the Penguins got a second crack at it.

It was a double minor because there was blood. When Owen Tippett went down after blocking a shot, Sidney Crosby got the puck and one-timed it in the net.

He has 53 goals in 82 career games — the equivalent of a full season — against Philly.

The Flyers only had three players active at that time, so in effect, it was a five-on-three. It was 2-1, Penguins, at 6:49 of the second period.

“I thought we played well. Second period we put ourselves in a problem with penalties,” Tortorella added.

4. The Penguins drew lots of penalties.

The Penguins had some chances early on the first power play, but the Flyers’ penalty kill settled down and killed it off. It was an important kill and the Flyers had some jump afterward as a result.

Less than 30 seconds after the kill, Foerster high-sticked Brian Dumolin in the mouth and the Penguins got a second crack at it. It was a double minor, there was blood. When Owen Tippett went down after blocking a shot, Sidney Crosby got the puck and one-timed it in. The Flyers only had three players active at that time. It was 2-1 Penguins at 6:49 of the second period. The Penguins started out the third period with a power play as well.

5. Kieffer Bellows scored a rare goal.

Bellows gained the zone with speed and ripped a wrist shot low that found the back of the net. DeSmith, who played well, just missed it.

It was Bellows’ second of the season, and it was a 1-1 game at 10:04 of the first period. Justin Braun got the assist. Bellows didn’t see much ice time in the second period because of the penalties the Flyers had to kill off.

Bellows played just seven minutes.

Breakaways

Tippett had eight shots on goal. .. Zucker scored his eighth goal in his last seven games. … The Penguins called up Alex Nylander recently; he was the eighth overall pick for Buffalo in 2016….The Penguins had eight scoring chances to the Flyers’ zero in the first 11 minutes of the second period….Joel Farabee (one shot) is goalless in 25 straight games. … Tony DeAngelo (suspended) and Brendan Lemieux didn’t play…. Nick Deslauriers had eight hits, and Foerster had five. … Travis Sanheim played in his 400th NHL game. … Crosby, who won just eight of 21 faceoffs, scored his 122nd point against the Flyers, second all-time of all NHL players against Philadelphia….Mario Lemieux has 124.

Torts Salutes Chuck Fletcher, Feels Excited for Danny Briere

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