Instant Replay: Penguins 4, Flyers 1

Share

BOX SCORE

The energy around the Wells Fargo Center was palpable.

Between a deafening “Let’s Go Flyers” chant three minutes into the contest and the roar of the crowd whenever Steve Mason turned away a shot, the arena was in full playoff mode.

The team, though, just didn’t appear to feed off of that energy as the Flyers dropped a 4-1 matinee with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The loss was their first in regulation since a 4-0 defeat to Edmonton back on March 3.

Marc-Andre Fleury had a rather easy afternoon between the pipes as the Flyers threw just nine shots his way in the first two periods, their lowest output through the first 40 minutes since Nov. 14. The 17 shots they finished with were the fewest all season.

Kris Letang tapped in the final blow in front of an empty net with 1:38 to go. With two assists, Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to 11 games.

The game was there for the taking through the first two periods. Radko Gudas buried a slapshot, his second in as many games, to put the Flyers up 1-0 after a scoreless first period. That lasted for all of 1:01 as Trevor Daley put one over Mason’s right shoulder.

From then on, it was all Pittsburgh. The visitor’s forecheck was unflappable as the ice completely tilted in the Penguins’ favor in the second period. The continued pressure created sloppy passes and in turn numerous turnovers from the Flyers in the defensive and neutral zones. A failed clear from Ryan White led to a wide-open blast from Carl Hagelin in the slot that gave Pittsburgh its first lead. Less than two minutes later, Chris Kunitz was credited with a goal that ricocheted off the end boards and off of Mason into the net.

In the opening 20 minutes, Mason stood on his head as he turned away 11 shots. A handful of which were point blank, including a breakaway attempt while on the man-advantage that saw him deny Hagelin’s attempt late in the period.

Goalie report
With no morning skate and Dave Hakstol saying the decision on who will start would be a game-time decision, all eyes were between the pipes for warmups.

Steve Mason got the nod for his sixth start in seven games and his second start in as many contests with the Penguins. He kept the Flyers in the game throughout as he finished with 31 saves on 35 shots. His efforts earned him third star honors afterwards.

During the game, Ron Hextall said that Michal Neuvirth “wasn’t feeling right.” He was actually scheduled to start.

Marc-Andre Fleury moves to 17-5-3 in his last 25 starts after stopping 17 shots.

Power play
It was a poor performance from the Flyers through the first two periods. On three failed attempts, the Flyers registered just three shots. They finished 0 for 4.

This is the second straight game without a goal on the man-advantage for Philadelphia.

Penalty kill
Equally as poor as the Flyers' power play was the Penguins’. Their approach on the man-advantage has been lackluster when Evgeny Malkin is out of the lineup. They dropped to 2 for 36 in 14 games without him after failing on three tries against Philadelphia.

The Flyers have killed 24 of 27 power plays in their last 11 games.

Rare Saturday slip-up
Perhaps it’s the early starts the Flyers enjoy, or it’s just simply a coincidence. Whatever the case may be, they have been playing good hockey during Saturday games this season, going 9-3-6 with their last regulation loss on a Saturday coming in a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on Jan. 2.

Injury report
Jake Voracek returned from his nine-game absence after suffering a lower-body injury in the 3-2 win over Minnesota on Feb. 25. The team went 7-1-1 without him.

Jordan Weal, R.J. Umberger and Evgeny Medvedev were healthy scratches. Chris VandeVelde served the first of a two-game suspension for his elbow on Chicago’s Jonathan Toews.

Up next
The Flyers will embark on a four-game road trip starting in Brooklyn against the New York Islanders on Monday followed by Columbus on Tuesday. This will be their 13th back-to-back set of the season with three more remaining in a span of eight days from April 2 to April 10.

Contact Us