Flyers Steal Game 1 After Battle With Penguins on Saturday

With the energy in the building already high, a power play goal would have blown the roof off PPG Paints Arena. Fortunately for Philly, they were able to come away with the kill.

A little less than five minutes later, the Flyers got their first chance on the man-advantage after Tyson Foerster drew a trip from Kris Letang. The Flyers’ power play was unsuccessful as well. With little time remaining, Christian Dvorak scored, but it was immediately waived off as he crashed into Stuart Skinner well before the puck crossed. Play resumed with no need for a review, and the penalty was killed off.

Sean Couturier laid a crushing hit on Egor Chinakov, setting the tone physically. Moments later, Sidney Crosby got two minutes for roughing, aka taking Jamie Drysdale’s helmet off. But Drysdale also got two minutes for interference, so the game went to 4-on-4.

Nothing came from the 4-on-4, and the period ended scoreless, with the Flyers leading shots 10-5.

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Flyers score, Penguins answer

The two teams picked up right where they left off in the first period. It was a back-and-forth start with each team trading shots.

Trevor Zegras had the best chance of the early going in the period, but Skinner bested him. Noah Cates had a 2-on-1 with Denver Barkey, but opeted for the shot, which Skinner also stopped.

Sean Cotuturier had a good chance before the 7-minute mark of the period, holding off Wortherspoon on the rush, but his shot went high.

The second period had been a goaltender’s duel, with both teams generating plenty of high-danger chances. However, the advantage was shifted in the Flyers’ direction, as they were the first team to break through.

Trevor Zegras (1) set up Jamie Drysdale (1) for the second-period goal, putting the Flyers up 1-0 with a little more than half the game remaining. Denver Barkey (1), who was screening Skinner, picked up the secondary assist.

Just after the goal, Travis Sanheim was called for interference, putting the Penguins back on the power play. It provided a big opportunity for the Penguins to spin the momentum back in their favor with the relentless crowd having their backs.

The Flyers’ penalty kill came up with the big stop, and this time, the Pittsburgh crowd was letting the Penguins hear it after the failed chance on the man-advantage.

Philly had the chance to really take hold of the game with another Cates and Barkey rush. This time, Cates opted for the pass to the rookie, but a great play from Wortherspoon broke it up.

That’s when Pittsburgh got back into the game. The Flyers could not clear the puck after a long bounce off Vladar’s pads, leaving it for Evgeni Malkin (1) to fire one in the far side on the Philly netminder. With just over 4 minutes to play in the second, it was a 1-1 game.

Flyers win it in the third

Late in the second period, the Flyers were put on the power play after Anthony Mantha got two minutes for roughing Ristolainen. The Flyers did not score before the period ended, which took it into the first 46 seconds of the third period.

That gave the Penguins a big kill to start the third period.

The Flyers got a second chance after another Mantha penalty, this time, catching Porter Martone with a high stick. It was a much better effort, but the same exact result: no goal.

The game was brewing momentum for the Penguins as Skinner continued to dominate in the crease. Philly had chances, but could not convert. The Penguins had chances too, but none as great a danger as Philly.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining in the period, the Flyers pulled back ahead.

Christian Dvorak (1) found Rasmus Ristolainen (1) at the point, who fed Travis Sanheim (1) into the slot, who ripped home the go-ahead score, making it a 2-1 game halfway into the third period.

The Penguins came back with a heightened intensity, trying to find the game-tying score before time ran out. They could not do so early in the push.

Before the Penguins even had the chance to pull Skinner, Porter Martone (1) put the game on ice for the Flyers with a stop, spin, and absolutely nasty snipe to make it a 3-1 game.

The Penguins pulled Skinner following the goal, trying to wipe the 2-goal deficit.

Sidney Crosby, slashing, and Travis Sanheim, a cross-check, each got penalties with 1:09 remaining. That took the Penguins’ best player off the ice, same for the Flyers’ best defenseman.

Bryan Rust (1) made it a 3-2 game, but the Flyers were able to hold on for the win.

What’s Next

The Flyers and Penguins square off in Game 2 of the Series on Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST.

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