The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins via shootout, 2-1 (2-1), at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. The Flyers have won their share of overtime decisions against the Penguins before, including the years since the adoption of 3-on-3 play, but this was the first time the Flyers have ever prevailed over Pittsburgh in a game that went to a shootout.
Carter Hart, apart from one gaffe with his stick that led to Pittsburgh's lone goal of the game, was outstanding in net. The Penguins generated five odd-man rushes in regulation and two more in overtime as well as multiple over good chances during the second period and beyond. He wound up with 30 saves on 31 shots. Hart then went 2-for-3 in the shootout.
Hart's off-ice friend and Penguins counterpart, Tristan Jarry, also played a strong game. He robbed debuting rookie Wade Allison (4 shots on goal) a couple of times, including strong saves on a Flyers' power play and then at 5-on-5. Jarry finished with 26 saves on 27 shots through 65 minutes. He was 0-for-2 in the shootout.
After a scoreless first period, Sidney Crosby (17th goal of the season) put the Penguins ahead early in the second; the lone goal of a wide-open middle frame that was a stark contrast to a rather low-event opening 20 minutes. Jakub Voracek (8th) tied the game less than 90 seconds into the third period for the only goal by either team. In the shootout, a successful attempt by Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel was topped by tallies from Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier.
The Flyers went 0-for-3 on the power play, including a failed 4-on-3 in overtime. However, after getting shredded in going 0-for-3 on the penalty kill in Washington, the team went 3-for-3 on the PK on this night; more in line with how the Flyers had been doing on the PK in April until the debacle in DC two nights earlier.
Ivan Provorov skated a team-high 24:36 of ice time was credited with five of the Flyers’ 13 blocked shots, while Travis Sanheim had four blocks including two well-timed ones on penalty kills. Robert Hägg led the Flyers with six hits (including four in the first period), while Scott Laughton contributed five.
For more on the game,
click here. This weekend, the Flyers host the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon (12:30 p.m. EDT) and the New York Islanders on Sunday evening (6:30 p.m. EDT).
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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