Flyers, Penguins Alumni Play to 3-3 Tie

1-14-2017_FlyersPenguinsAlumni_warmups_credKateFrese-7

(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Call it a well-earned point for both teams. A hockey rarity occurred at Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers and Penguins Alumni skated to a tie, something that was eliminated from the league after the 2004-05 lockout.

It was a 3-3 final between the Flyers and Penguins in front of a sellout crowd of 19,727 at Wells Fargo Center for a celebration of 50 years of Flyers hockey.

The Flyers opened the scoring in the first with a goal by Dave Brown. Brown's goal was assisted by Orest Kindrachuk and Bob Kelly.

The Flyers held the lead in shots at the end of the first period, 15-12, with many of them being good stops by Penguins goalie Jean-Sebastian Aubin, and held the 1-0 lead.

Early in the second, the Flyers extended the lead. Simon Gagne led a pass to Danny Briere who cut in on goal and lifted a backhander over Aubin to make it 2-0. Gagne and Todd Fedoruk picked up assists on Briere's goal.

The Penguins got a chance to get on the board in the second with a penalty shot — all penalties in alumni games result in penalty shots. Grant Jennings was stopped by Brian Boucher to keep the lead, 2-0.

The second period ended with the Flyers ahead by that score. Shots in the period were an even 12-12 with the Flyers holding a 27-24 advantage.

The Penguins got on the board early in the third as Ryan Malone put home a rebound. Jamie Leach and Jeff Chychrun had assists.

The Flyers got the goal back moments later as Luke Richardson fed Eric Desjardins at the side of the net to make it 3-1. Reggie Leach also had an assist on Desjardins goal.

In the second half of the third period, the Penguins rallied back. Ryan Malone got his second of the game on a backhander under Boucher's glove. Assists on Malone's second went to Tyler Kennedy and Colby Armstrong.

With four minutes to play, Kennedy roared in on the right wing and fired a hard wrist shot over Boucher's glove to tie the game.

The Flyers had the push in the closing moments, with Jocelyn Thibault standing tall. He first stopped another great chance for Desjardins, bidding for his second of the game. Then with under a minute to play, Thibault made a great glove save on Eric Lindros and stoned John LeClair and Mikael Renberg at the buzzer to preserve the tie.

Call it the only time Philadelphia fans ever wanted to see a shootout.

Regardless, this was a great sendoff for some Flyers who will probably never take the ice again in an alumni game. Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber skating alongside Leach was quite a sight. The Legion of Doom had several tremendous chances. Brian Propp was strong on his skates. Mark Howe and Eric Desjardins still look very good. 

And overall, it was a night full of great memories.

Below, you can watch the introduction of the players from both teams as well as the opening video from the night's pregame ceremonies.

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