FLY-BY: Flyers 6, Penguins 4
Sunday, 04.01.2012 / 1:10 PM
/ News
philadelphiaflyers.com
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| 1. HEATED RIVALRY If you need further proof the Flyers and Penguins have an intense rivalry, then look no further than the final minutes of today's game. A total of 68 penalty minutes, coaches exchanging words and a Flyer whose eye is swollen and currently wearing a visor because of taking a puck to the face, drops the gloves to defend a teammate. The two teams will meet again in six days. 2. BOB'S PERFECTION IN PITTSBURGH The Flyers improved their mark to 5-0-0 in Pittsburgh's new arena, the CONSOL Energy Center, and the man between the pipes has been Sergei Bobrovsky each time… Bob was once again spectacular today, fighting off a career-high 43 of 47 shots, including seven by Sidney Crosby and two from Evgeni Malkin. 3. COMEBACK KIDS The Flyers once again made it hard on themselves by falling into a 2-0 hole, but like they had all year long, they fought back. The Flyers posted five unanswered goals through the end of the first period to midway through the third period to gain a 5-2 lead. Eventually the score would move up to a 6-4 final, but this was the Flyers 10th time this season they have come from down two goals or more to earn at least a point. They are 7-21-3 when trailing by two or more goals this season. 4. D STEPS UP The Flyers defense was left with just five players after Nicklas Grossmann went down with a lower-body injury in the first period… Braydon Coburn played a team-high 27:50, while Matt Carle also picked up extra minutes, appearing in 26:54… The Flyers defense also picked up two assists, and a goal from Marc-Andre Bourdon, which turned out to be the game-winner. 5. LAVY'S TAKE Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette didn't like his team's performance to open the game, but couldn't be more proud of the way they responded: "I don't think we were very sharp with the execution of what we were trying to do out there… After that I though we settled in and went back-and-forth into an even game." |
With today’s win, the Flyers passed 100 points for the 19th time in franchise history. That ties the Boston Bruins for most 100-point seasons in NHL history. The Flyers have now won 25 games on the road for the second consecutive year. They hit 25 road wins last season to set a franchise record and have now equaled that with one road game remaining. They can break the record again with a win at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Claude Giroux now has 61 assists on the season. He is just the eighth Flyer to record a season of 60 assists or more, and the first to do so since Mark Recchi had 63 in 1999-2000. Giroux posted his ninth game this season of three or more points with a goal and two assists. Today’s game was the 10th time this season the Flyers have come from down two goals or more to earn at least a point. They are 7-21-3 when trailing by two or more goals this season. Jakub Voracek recorded his second three-point game of the season and his first two-goal game of the year. His last two-goal game was Nov. 10, 2010 (for CBJ vs. STL). The Flyers have won all five games they have played at CONSOL Energy Center since it opened at the start of last season. 
Voracek posted two goals, one of which he skated into the zone and around the Pens defense finishing off the tally with a nice back-hand flip past Fleury. His assist was a great pass to Wayne Simmonds on the power-play to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. He recorded an empty-netter and a plus-2 rating to go along with a team-high four shots. |
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| "I think with every team, you try and get on their top guys and make them focus on you as a person and you as an agitator rather than what they can do with the puck." - Scott Hartnell "It's two fast teams and two teams that can make plays and like I said, we have to make sure we have a better start." - Claude Giroux |
Today's turning point came on the lone power-play goal of the game for the Flyers. Having fought their way back from another 0-2 deficit early, the Flyers pulled ahead after a pretty tic-tac-toe play from Claude Giroux to Jakub Voracek who fed it to Wayne Simmonds by the left post, who then redirected it past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. The goal wasn't the game-winner, but was an important one in putting the Penguins behind in the third period having to play catch up. |
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PIC OF THE NIGHT: A view of both the Flyers and Penguins bench.  |
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 Flyers 6, Penguins 4 Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Philadelphia Flyers sent a message with their resiliency. The Pittsburgh Penguins sent one with their fists. Message received on both sides. And to think the playoffs don't start for another 10 days.  FULL RECAP |
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