(Photo courtesy of Kate Frese/ Kate Frese Photography)
Pittsburgh went almost two full seasons without defeating the Flyers prior to this season. So far they are two for two. The Penguins unleashed 35 shots, scored four goals by four different goal scorers and defeated the Flyers 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers nearly took a very early just a minute into the game when Brayden Schenn and Claude Giroux had a two on one break. Giroux found Schenn who hit the post with his shot.
The Flyers got the game's first power play when Brian Dumoulin was called for tripping at 4:24 of the period. The Flyers were unable to generate much pressure and Pittsburgh killed it off.
The Penguins then got the next two power play chances on penalties to Schenn and Radko Gudas respectively. Pittsburgh also failed to score on both.
Steve Mason made 11 saves, Marc-Andre Fleury made four and the teams went to the locker room tied 0-0.
Radko Gudas put the Flyers ahead just 1:58 into the second. Gudas fired a shot from the point that found it's way home for his fourth goal of the season. The goal was unassisted.
The lead was short lived as Trevor Daley tied the game for Pittsburgh just 1:01 later. The goal was the fifth of the season for Daley.
Following the goal Pittsburgh really began to dictate play. They came after the Flyers in waves and it paid off late in the period.
Carl Hagelin got his ninth of the season to give pittsburgh a 2-1 lead at 16;56 of the period. Hagelin took a pass in the slot and beat Mason clean for the goal.
A minute and a half later, Chris Kunitz made it 3-1 Pittsburgh. Kunitz scored his 15th of the season at 18:25.
Pittsburgh fired 16 shots on goal in the period increasing their lead to 27-9 after forty minutes.
Pittsburgh played a methodical third period. They controlled the puck, made clean outlet passes, and got pucks deep. They had a chance to extend the lead mid way through with a power play but were unable to capitalize with it.
The Flyers could never get anything going. They were outshot 34-16 for the game and after adding an empty net goal with 1:38 to play, the Penguins skated off with a 4-1 victory on Saturday.
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
