Penguins 4, Flyers 3
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins got two goals from right winger Phil Kessel Thursday in a 4-3 comeback win that ended an eight-game losing streak against the Philadelphia Flyers.
In the first meeting of the season between the cross-state rivals, the Penguins erased a 2-0 deficit with three goals in the second period, and Kessel steered in a feed from left winger Carl Hagelin in the third period for his second goal and a 4-2 edge.
That stood as the winning goal as center Claude Giroux scored the fifth power-play goal of the game at 16:35 of the third period to make it 4-3.
Center Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and defenseman Trevor Daley also scored for Pittsburgh. The Flyers also got goals from center Brayden Schenn and right winger Jakub Voracek.
The Flyers not only had won eight in a row against the Penguins, but they also had been 13-2-1 - playoffs included - in Pittsburgh since Consol Energy Center opened.
The Penguins leapfrogged Philadelphia in the tight Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Pittsburgh controlled things early and had a 5-1 edge in shots, but the Flyers got the next seven shots, culminating in Schenn's power-play goal at 10:17 of the first period. On a rebound, he beat Penguins defenseman Kris Letang in a battle for the puck in the slot, pulled the puck toward the right post and made good on a gaping space behind goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for a 1-0 lead.
Daley protested when he got an offensive-zone penalty for hooking Philadelphia defenseman Mark Streit, then watched as the Flyers got another power-play goal. This time, Voracek carried the puck from the right dot toward the hash marks, then beat Fleury to the far side to make it 2-0 at 15:51 of the first period.
Daley struck back with a power-play goal 1:40 into the second period when, with center Eric Fehr providing a screen, he lifted a shot from the left circle over goaltender Steve Mason's right shoulder to cut the Flyers' lead to 2-1.
Crosby got an even-strength goal at 7:29 of the second period to tie it. He took a feed from left winger Chris Kunitz (two assists) and, from the bottom of the left circle, lifted a severe-angle shot past Mason.
Pittsburgh got its first lead, 3-2, on another power-play goal. This time, Crosby set up Kessel, near the right post, for an uncontested one-timer with Mason pulled to the far side of his crease at 14:06 of the second period.
NOTES: Philadelphia C Sean Couturier, who has been highly effective defensively against Penguins C Evgeni Malkin, missed the game because of an upper-body injury. He missed practice Wednesday, but at that time it was said to be a maintenance day. The Flyers recalled C Sam Gagner. ... Pittsburgh D Kris Letang played for a second game in a row despite an apparent right hand/arm injury. He missed practice on Wednesday and said he will need to continue to manage the injury in the coming days. ... Pittsburgh scratched D Derrick Pouliot and LW Sergei Plotnikov. ... C Jordan Weal, acquired by the Flyers on Jan. 6 from Los Angeles, was scratched again and has yet to dress for Philadelphia. The Flyers also scratched D Brandon Manning. ... Although neither team played Wednesday, both held optional game-day skates. ... The Penguins had their 400th consecutive sellout, including playoff games. ... Pittsburgh has an afternoon home game on Saturday against Vancouver. ... The Flyers play Saturday night against the Islanders in Brooklyn.