Thursday, October 08, 2009

Penguins continue hex over Flyers with one-goal victory

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Tyler Kennedy's goal early in the third period was the difference as Pittsburgh slipped past Philadelphia, 5-4, at Wachovia Center.

Evgeni Malkin and Alex Goligoski registered a goal and an assist each for the Penguins, who suffered a shutout loss to Phoenix at home on Wednesday but improved to 3-1-0 on the year.

Bill Guerin and Jordan Staal also lit the lamp while Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves for the win, his 16th career victory over Philadelphia.

Jeff Carter picked up two goals and two assists for the Flyers, who lost for the first time this year after three straight wins. Danny Briere added a pair of scores and Mike Richards notched two assists for Philly, which was trying to open a season 4-0 for the first time since 1995-96.

Ray Emery took the loss by allowing five goals on just 25 shots.

Kennedy's redirection score at the 8:37 mark of the third period gave the Pens a solid 5-3 advantage, but the visitors couldn't score on a 5-on-3 situation through the midway point.

Carter tallied his second of the game with extra skater on for Emery with 41 seconds to play, and despite two more quality chances as time ticked away, the Penguins escaped with the one-goal decision.

Pittsburgh went on the power play 14 seconds into the contest and converted when Malkin's one-timer beat Emery at 48 seconds.

Philly equalized with 8:07 to play in the first period as Braydon Coburn carried along the right wing at the goal line and slid a cross-ice pass for Briere's successful deflection.

Staal, though, scored on a forehander only 28 seconds later, as he took a Malkin pass in stride at the blue line and split a pair of defenders on the way to the net.

Briere notched his second of the game, a power-play score, 2:37 into the second by converting a rebound from the left side of the crease for a 2-2 tie, but Guerin scored on a breakaway at 5:26.

The Pens went up 4-2 while shorthanded at 8:08 as Coburn's errant clearing attempt from the left boards deflected off Emery and in. Goligoski got credit for being the last opposing player to touch the puck.

Carter was alone in front to score off a Richards pass on a two-man advantage with 3:01 left in the second, but the home team couldn't convert the 5-on-4 and the Flyers were behind a goal heading to the third.

Notes: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held to no points and two shots in the contest...The Flyers played without forward James van Riemsdyk, who is day-to- day with an upper body injury suffered on Tuesday...Pittsburgh won four of six regular-season meetings in 2008-09...These teams do not meet again until a home-and-home set on December 15-17...The Flyers finish up their three-game homestand on Saturday against Anaheim.

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