In a game that had a little of everything and a LOT of goals, the Pens find a way to defeat the Flyers 7-6
Newly acquired forward Emil Bemstrom makes his Pittsburgh debut around what has become a familiar looking lineup.
We have a new name on today’s roster graphic.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Welcome to Pittsburgh, @bemstrom_emil! pic.twitter.com/UUzLtZbIej
Not a great start for the home team, Lars Eller makes a terrible misplay of the puck in his own end and Travis Sanheim tips a Scott Laughton shot in front that throws off Tristan Jarry just enough to miss it. 1-0 Flyers just 2:11 into the game.
SARGE STRIKES. #PHIvsPIT | @Laughts21 pic.twitter.com/MPJAuzdqlH
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 25, 2024
The Pens get back into the game with a solid effort from their first line. Rickard Rakell throws the puck to the net, Bryan Rust tips it. Cal Petersen makes the first save but the puck is sitting there for Sidney Crosby to chip in past the goalie’s leg. 1-1 game.
87 games vs. the Flyers for no. 87.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Crosby's goals (55) and points (126) are the most in NHL history vs. Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/6Coo7sjXvT
Pittsburgh gets rewarded to go into the break up a goal, Marcus Pettersson fires a puck from the point that Rust is there to deflect in. 2-1.
Bryan Rust has scored five goals in his last seven games pic.twitter.com/IY4hA9T71i
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
A few red lights early and that trend would continue. Shots were 11-7 Pittsburgh in the first period.
The Flyers come out strong in the second. Tyson Foerster makes Jarry look awkward when he controls an incoming shot and dekes to the forehand to tuck it in. 2-2 game only 55 seconds into the period.
Use the Foers. #PHIvsPIT | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/SnoEtolzYt
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 25, 2024
Eller takes a double minor, but Philadelphia gives two minutes back by taking a penalty during their power play. Everything cycles through.
Midway through the period, the Pens temporarily take control of the game. The Pens’ power play does something good, exterior passing swings around to Rust, who has space to step into a shot. Petersen has nothing for it. 3-2, Pittsburgh back in front.
A power-play goal for the Penguins... and two goals for Bryan Rust!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Rust now has an active five-game point streak against the Flyers (3G-5A). pic.twitter.com/sZD075r0Fz
Lightning strikes twice for the Pens’ power play with the rare second goal in a game. It’s the new guy. Bemstrom steps out of the corner with the puck and the Philadelphia defense is caught a step behind. Somehow the shot ramps off the goalie and in. 4-2.
TWO POWER-PLAY GOALS FOR PITTSBURGH! ✌️
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Welcome to the squad, Bemstrom! pic.twitter.com/YglRfhr9yx
The Pens are far from out of the woods. Off a faceoff, Sanheim rockets a shot that clicks off Reilly Smith and into the net. Ouch. 4-3.
TRAVIS SANHEIM HAS TWO GOALS!!! 4-3 Pittsburgh now. pic.twitter.com/6Pp3vzVGxt
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) February 25, 2024
Pittsburgh gets another power play, but hey they’ve scored twice and all is well right? Right?
Wrong. The Flyers get aggressive and go up the ice. Rakell flounders around atrociously, but then Erik Karlsson doesn’t pick up the trailer. It’s always the trailing player. Tie game after Scott Laughton knocks it in.
THAT'S 14 SHG'S FOR THE POWER KILL. #PHIvsPIT | @Laughts21 pic.twitter.com/Szdi87CH7v
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 25, 2024
Five total goals during an unhinged second period leaves the game tied.
The Pens keep the forechecking pressure going, and it pays off. Evgeni Malkin gives it to Drew O’Connor, who has no angle. But no one needed much of an angle to score on Cal Petersen today. 5-4, Pens back in front.
Drew O'Connor's season of career highs continues! pic.twitter.com/lg2TmxMTTr
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Crosby keeps making things happen, he passes from behind the net to Rakell who steps out and lifts in his first goal in 16 games. 6-4.
RAK ON pic.twitter.com/E9nL4dw0eI
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
The Flyers aren’t going away though, Cam York jumps up as the fourth man in on a rush, they find him with a pass and he blows one by Jarry. 6-5, and almost half the period remains.
Yorky uncorks one. #PHIvsPIT | @camyork2 pic.twitter.com/EMGZuqzNrt
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 25, 2024
Pittsburgh keeps digging, Kris Letang flips one from the right point that isn’t hard but it finds a way in. 7-5 with less than five minutes to go.
Points recap
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2024
Crosby 1G-4A
Rust 1G-2A
Rakell 1G-2A
Letang 1G-1A
Pettersson 2A
Bemstrom 1G
O'Connor 1G
Karlsson 1A
Smith 1A
Malkin 1A
Puustinen 1A pic.twitter.com/OgRyZuIVgQ
But it’s not quite over yet. Crosby gets called for a penalty and some snappy passing by Philadelphia sets Foerster up for his second goal of the night. 7-6.
That's 2️⃣ for Tyson. #PHIvsPIT | @tfoerster8 pic.twitter.com/hxlxlGGbD8
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 25, 2024
Flyers pull their goalie, Letang ices the puck with 45 seconds left and Philly calls their timeout to try and find one more goal. They can’t and the Pens milk the clock down to zero and skate out with the win.
Total mayhem, but at this point a win is a win. The Pens now set off on an important West Coast trip after having kept their season afloat with a 2-1-1 homestand.