Embarrassed Flyers get even with Pens
Sean Couturier had a goal and two assists, Brian Elliott stopped 34 shots and the Philadelphia Flyers cooled off the Penguins 5-1 last night in Pittsburgh to even the first-round series at a game apiece.
Shane Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny, Andrew McDonald and Nolan Patrick also scored for the Flyers. They bounced back from an embarrassing 7-0 loss in the opener to beat the Penguins for the first time this season.
Game 3 is tomorrow in Philadelphia.
Patric Hornqvist scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal with just over 5 minutes left to avoid the shutout, but the Penguins looked ordinary for long stretches after looking unstoppable in Game 1.
Matt Murray’s shutout streak dating to the 2017 Stanley Cup finals ended at 226:49 when Gostisbehere scored on the power play late in the first period. Murray finished with 16 saves to lose for just the third time in 17 home playoff starts in his career.
Flyers coach Dave Hakstol made no changes to the lineup that was picked apart in the series opener, confident his team would respond the way it did during various parts of an occasionally turbulent season.
That included staying with Elliott, who was pulled midway through the second period in Game 1 after giving up five goals on just 19 shots.
The 33-year-old didn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence early. He appeared to have no clue where the puck was when Hornqvist’s shot zipped by his left pad only to smack off the post in the first period. Elliott appeared caught off guard moments later when Justin Schultz’ fluttering shot from just above the goal line handcuffed him. The puck stayed out of the net, however, and Elliott quickly steadied.
The Flyers struggled to sustain pressure on Murray but took advantage of what few opportunities they created.
Philadelphia went on the power play late in the first period when Pittsburgh’s Zach Aston-Reese was called for boarding and the Flyers, who didn’t even manage a shot on net during four power plays in Game 1, needed just one to take the lead.
Gostisbehere sent a shot from the point that made its way through a Nolan Patrick screen, between Murray’s legs and into the net with 37 seconds left in the opening period to end Murray’s shutout streak at 225:49, the fourth longest playoff shutout streak in the last 28 years.
It didn’t take the Flyers nearly as long to beat Murray again. Less than two minutes actually.
Murray actually managed to get his right pad on Couturier’s shot from in front but the puck popped up, caromed off Letang and into the net 47 seconds into the second.
Jets 4, Wild 1 — Paul Stastny, Andrew Copp and Patrik Laine scored in the third period and host Winnipeg beat Minnesota to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal in the second period and also had an assist. Rookie Jack Roslovic, replacing injured veteran Mathieu Perreault, had two assists in the game that ended with a series of fights.
Zach Parise had his second goal of the series when he deflected Mikko Koivu’s shot past Connor Hellebuyck to end the goalie’s shutout bid with 45 seconds left. The goal came on the power play after Jets forward Brandon Tanev was called for hooking with 59 seconds left.
Hellebuyck made 16 saves. Devan Dubnyk stopped 39 shots for Minnesota.
Winnipeg won 3-2 on Wednesday night. Game 3 is tomorrow at Minnesota.
Elsewhere in the NHL — Ken Hitchcock, who led the Dallas Stars to its only Stanley Cup championship, retired yesterday, ending a 22-year career as the thirdwinningest coach in NHL history. The 823 wins are behind only Scotty Bowman (1,244) and Joel Quenneville (884). He’s fourth in total games with 1,536.
The 66-year-old Hitchcock will become a consultant for the Stars.