Penguins knock off Flyers in outdoor game
PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby increased his league lead to 34 goals and Matt Cullen, playing in his first NHL outdoor game at age 40, scored the winning goal as the Pittsburgh Penguins bested the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Saturday at Heinz Field in a Stadium Series game.
Crosby scored the only goal of the first, with Pittsburgh's Nick Bonino and Philadelphia's Jakub Voracek trading goals in the second. Cullen got two whacks at a wraparound and gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead at 1:50 of third.
Shayne Gostisbehere's power-play goal using Wayne Simmonds as a screen pulled the Flyers to within 3-2 at 6:48 of the third, but Chad Ruhwedel scored off of a faceoff won by Evgeni Malkin at 14:06 of the third to restore Pittsburgh's two-goal lead.
After a 76-degree day Friday, the game-time temperature was 36 degrees, and snow fell through most of the game, although mostly in the form of flurries. A crowd of 67,318 watched.
Pittsburgh (38-14-8) earned a point in 15 of its past 18 games. It won five of the past six games against the Flyers (28-26-7), who lost five of their past seven.
Crosby opened the scoring at 11:18 of the first period. He converted a feed from Jake Guentzel from below the right circle, depositing the puck behind Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth.
Bonino added a power-play goal at 6:44 of the second period to make it 2-0. From the right dot, he held the puck, delayed and beat Neuvirth to the short side. Guentzel picked up his second assist.
During four-on-four play at 11:14 of the second period, Voracek -- who played despite leaving Thursday's practice because of an undisclosed injury -- scored to make it 2-1. His team-leading 50th point came when he carried the puck from behind the net and slid it past the right skate of Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray.
NOTES: Pittsburgh D Kris Letang missed the game because of an upper-body injury. He had been a game-time decision after getting hurt Tuesday at Carolina. D Ron Hainsey, who made his Penguins debut after being acquired from Carolina on Thursday, took Letang's spot alongside D Brian Dumoulin. ... Penguins D Justin Schultz returned after missing three games because of a concussion. ... Pittsburgh also scratched RW Carter Rowney and D Steve Oleksy. ... Pittsburgh LW Conor Sheary (upper body injury) missed his 11th straight game but began skating and took part in the team's optional morning skate wearing a non-contact jersey. ... The Flyers scratched LW Roman Lyubimov and D Michael Del Zotto and D Nick Schultz. ... Philadelphia did not hold a morning skate.