McCann’s late goal lifts Penguins past Flyers
Jared McCann has always possessed the skills required to be a difference-maker at both ends of the ice. The trouble for the Pittsburgh Penguins versatile forward is consistency. Sometimes he looks like one of the better 200-foot players in the NHL. Sometimes he can disappear for long stretches.
Not so much at the moment, however.
McCann pounced on a rebound and knocked it past Bryan Elliott with less than
10 minutes to go and the Pittsburgh Penguins slipped past the Philadelphia Flyers
4-3 on Saturday. McCann’s fifth goal of the season and third in five games since a two-week absence due to a lower-body injury helped the Penguins beat the Flyers
for the second time in five days and draw even with their cross-state rivals in the highly competitive East Division.
“I think he’s trying to do the little things well,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s trying to get himself into the areas where he gets looks ... And like any player, when the puck goes into the net it’s good for their confidence.”
McCann certainly looked confident while racing through the slot during a rush, and found the game-winner on his stick after Brandon Tanev’s shot smacked off Elliott’s pad. McCann fired it into the net, then went skates over skull after tripping over Elliott.
Zach Aston-Reese, Bryan
Rust and Evgeni Malkin also scored for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry finished with 19 saves as the Penguins responded after letting an early three-goal lead slip away in a loss to the Flyers on Thursday night.
“I think that’s a great team win tonight,” said Tanev, who finished with two assists. “Obviously, the result the other night was was not what we wanted. There were times today when we were up and down, but we came out
and had a strong third period and got it done.”
Travis Konecny, Kevin Hayes and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for the Flyers. Elliott made 23 stops but couldn’t beat Pittsburgh for the second time in three days.
“They made us pay on a couple of our mistakes and we were right there,” Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said. “But we made one mistake too many that cost us the game.”