{"id":640418,"date":"2026-03-08T07:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T07:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/640418\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T07:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T07:12:07","slug":"penguins-stumbling-cant-put-away-flyers-in-another-bad-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/640418\/","title":{"rendered":"Penguins Stumbling, Can’t Put Away Flyers in Another Bad Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014<\/strong> Perhaps it was a glimpse into the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 (31-17-13) future as the team played without both Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Evgeni Malkin<\/a> in a crucial game against their arch rival Philadelphia Flyers (28-22-11). <\/p>\n

Every good moment had an equally bad counterbalance. Every good performance had an equal and opposite performance. The balances from both teams forced overtime.<\/p>\n

And then a shootout. For not the first time, the Penguins were 0-for-3 in a shootout and lost to Philadelphia 4-3 at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins are a league-worst 1-9 in shootouts. <\/p>\n

At least it wasn\u2019t goalie interference? Flyers forward Trevor Zegras scored the shootout winner. <\/p>\n

In overtime, Philadelphia goalie Dan Vladar stepped from his crease to hit Erik Karlsson, giving the Penguins a power play with 2:09 remaining in the three-on-three extra time. However, Karlsson hit the post on the Penguins\u2019 best chance. <\/p>\n

In the low event game, the Penguins outshot the Flyers 19-14 in regulation. <\/p>\n

Crosby is rehabing from a lower-body injury suffered while playing for Team Canada in the Olympics, it was the NHL that put Malkin on the shelf for five games for a wicked overhand slash on Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin Thursday. <\/p>\n

The Penguins started well, but not everyone joined the fun. <\/p>\n

Tommy Novak<\/a> (13) finished an early Penguins power play when he buried a wrister from the slot following a soft pass from Justin Brazeau. Rookie Ville Koivunen started the play from the half wall and earned the other assist at 3:00. <\/p>\n

Philadelphia tied the game less than a minute later when Penguins rookie Avery Hayes tried a backhand pass between his legs at the defensive blue line. Philadelphia easily intercepted and quickly tied the game 1-1 when Owen Tippet blasted a one-timer past Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner at 3:54. <\/p>\n

The floodgates opened in the second period, but it wasn\u2019t all good. The Penguins scored a pair of second-period goals, but their defensive breakdowns were ghastly and kept Philadelphia in the game.<\/p>\n

Early in the second, the Penguins claimed a 2-1 lead on a clean rush and entry. Winger Bryan Rust led the charge before Egor Chinakhov dropped the pass to a trailing Rickard Rakell (12), who snapped it past Vladar at 3:38. <\/p>\n

Once again, the Penguins gave up the equalizer shortly afterward. Rookie Alex Bump was invisible to defenders until he had the puck in the left circle and beat Skinner with a shortside wrister through traffic at 4:46.<\/p>\n

The Penguins reclaimed their lead 59 seconds later, but with some help from Vladar, who whiffed on Karlsson\u2019s (6) point shot at 5:45. <\/p>\n

And more Penguins mistakes landed on Kris Letang and defense partner Sam Girard. Both left their station near the net but didn\u2019t cover the puck carrier or any Flyers players, for that matter. <\/p>\n

The number of mistakes stemming from the Girard-Letang pairing was not small.<\/p>\n

Denver Barkey (3) was alone near the crease for an easy chip at 10:03 and another tie game, 3-3. <\/p>\n

The Penguins began the day just three points ahead of the surging Columbus Blue Jackets for a playoff spot. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Penguins game<\/a> Philadelphia flyers<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n

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