Flyers 5 Pens 2

Well...at least the run of shootouts is over? 

The city was revved up for the big match up with 1st place Philadelphia, and a chance to tie for 1st in the conference.  The Penguins struck first in the 1st period when Alex Kovalev sent a wrister from below the right faceoff circle past Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.  It only took the Flyers 3 minutes to tie the game, however, when a Braydon Coburn shot was tipped by Jeff Carter, hit the post behind Marc-Andre Fleury, went off of the back of Fleury's leg and in the net.  This was the start of many odd and awkward bounces that would prove to do the Penguins in.

Tied 1-1 in the 2nd period, Tyler Kennedy gave the Penguins the lead again when he sent a soft shot along the ice that snuck under Bobrovsky's pads.  It was a weak goal, but it turned out to be the last one Bobrovsky allowed before the Flyers onslaught began.  Scott Hartnell tied the game just 4 minutes later on the powerplay.  Less than a minute later, Claude Giroux gave the Flyers the lead for good with a hard wrist shot from the slot past Fleury's blocker side. 

Tigger would have been easier to catch...damn you black and orange

The 3rd period provided the Penguins with ample opportunities to score as they had 3 powerplay chances.  However, the only scoring was done by Ville Leino, who had 2 goals to give the Flyers a 5-2 win.  One of Leino's goals bounced off of his body, and the other bounced off of the back of Fleury yet again.  It was a game of bounces, and one that favored the Flyers completely.

3 stars:
#3 - Briere
#2 - Hartnell
#1 - Leino

Notes/Thoughts:
- The Flyers finished the inaugural season at Consol by winning all 3 games there.

- Mark Letestu's return made a big difference in the faceoff circle as he went 12-5 and the Penguins won the faceoff battle for the first time in a few games

- Arron Asham had a team low 9 minutes of ice time, and personally, I don't especially think he fits well with this team.  I would rather see Comrie or Tangradi get the ice time and add some scoring potential.  Or in Tangradi's case, he has just as much grit as well.

- Deryk Engelland continues to be the defensive healthy scratch.

- Sidney Crosby has been cleared to skate with the team in game day skates, but no contact still.  He has been ruled out for the regular season but not for the playoffs yet.