Penguins Beat Flyers 2-1, Win Streak Now At 12 Games
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Sunday for their 12th consecutive win. Tyler Kennedy’s goal just over two minutes into overtime finished off the comeback for the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Flyers captain Claude Giroux scored a powerplay goal late in the second period for his 10th of the season and a one-goal lead over the Penguins going into the third. The Flyers controlled the ice for most of the first two periods, but couldn’t hold on as Sidney Crosby sparked a late comeback for the Penguins.
Crosby scored his 14th goal of the season on a 5-on-3 powerplay with just under six minutes left in regulation to tie the game at one. Crosby has been a force for the Penguins this year, as his 39 assists and 53 points are best in the NHL.
Tyler Kennedy missed the Penguins game on Friday against the Islanders due to illness, but returned Sunday and finished off the Flyers with his fifth goal of the season. Kennedy recognized his team’s confidence during the win streak after the game.
“I think teams know, you learn how to win games,” Kennedy said in the locker room. “Everyone believes in each other here and it shows.”
Kennedy’s goal inched over Ilya Bryzgalov’s right shoulder after a great pass from Matt Niskanen at the point. Bryzgalov was great in net for the Flyers, and made 33 saves on 35 shots in the loss to the Penguins.
Marc-Andre Fleury is 7-0 with a 2.15 goals against average during Pittsburgh’s 12-game winning streak, and got the win last night after making 27 saves on 28 shots.
The Penguins are playing their best hockey without last season’s MVP Evgeni Malkin and their best defenseman Kris Letang. Malkin could return by the end of the week and will share a line with newly acquired Brenden Morrow.
Pittsburgh traded defensive prospect Joe Morrow to the Dallas Stars earlier on Sunday for the 34-year-old who has spent all 13 seasons in the NHL with the Stars. Brenden Morrow has been the Stars captain since 2006, but waived his no-trade clause to join the Penguins.
Morrow has six goals and five assists in 29 games this season and will join Malkin on the second line with James Neal. Morrow should be on the ice when the Penguins take on the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The Canadiens currently sit just five points behind the Penguins for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins beat the Canadiens to begin their 12-game winning streak on March 1, but can they do it again in hopes of staying perfect in the month of March?
