Penguins sweep Flyers

PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby crystallized the Pittsburgh Penguins’ hot run against the Philadelphia Flyers with the kind of goal that he and few others on the planet can create.

The Pittsburgh captain then sealed his team’s first season sweep of its cross-state rival in 11 years with a pass that wasn’t nearly as flashy but just as effective.

Bryan Rust put his stick down in front of the Philadelphia net just in time to redirect Crosby’s feed past Petr Mrazek 2:25 into overtime to give the Penguins a 5-4 victory on Sunday.

Pittsburgh pulled within three points of first-place Washington in the crowded Metropolitan Division and two points clear of Philadelphia after improving to 16-1-1 in its past 18 games at PPG Paints Arena.

“We did some good things, especially the second and third, created a lot and found a way to win,” Crosby said of the Penguins, who have won a clubrecord 11 overtime games at home.

The Flyers tied it on Sean Couturier’s goal with 43 seconds left in regulation, but the Penguins controlled the extra period. Rust ended it when his 13th goal of the season gave the Penguins their first sweep of Philadelphia since 2007 in what could be a playoff preview.

Crosby’s second otherworldly goal in a week gave the Penguins the lead 17 seconds into the third period. Crosby collected the puck high in the Philadelphia zone, used his left hand to keep Couturier at bay while using his right to dangle the puck before he skated to the left dot and ripped a wrist shot over Philadelphia defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere and Mrazek’s glove.