The Flyers celebrate after Mark Streit's overtime game-winner against the Penguins. The win locks down third place in the Metropolitan Division, sealing a playoff matchup with the New York Rangers. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
The Flyers assured a playoff matchup with the Rangers on Saturday, following a 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh. The win gives the Flyers a 4-1 series advantage, and puts them at 9-1-1 in regular-season games at Consol Energy Center since opening in 2010-11.
Mark Streit scored the game-winner on a backhander 2:10 into overtime, with Andrew MacDonald picking up the assist.
The game was relatively low-scoring at 2-1 through the first two periods and most of the third, until a James Neal goal tied it at 2 with 5:07 to go. Claude Giroux put the Flyers up ahead with 1:15 on the clock, until Kris Letang re-tied the game 38 seconds later.
Steve Mason left after the second period with what the team called an upper-body injury, after a collision with MacDonald — who was pushed into him by Jayson Megna. He stopped 21 of 22 shots, while Ray Emery stopped 12 of 14 shots in relief. The extent of Mason's injury remains unknown, but it's certain he'll rest for Sunday's game.
Giroux and Jakub Voracek led the way with three points each, while Neal led the Penguins with three points. Pittsburgh drastically out-shot the Flyers 36-21, even though both teams finished the first period with seven and six shots apiece. The Flyers' penalty kill unit continued to demonstrate mastery over the Penguins' power play, holding them to 0-4 — including a 1:40 two-man advantage. The Flyers were 1-2 on the power play with a Voracek goal, extending their streak of games with power play goals at Consol Energy Center to 11.
The Flyers finish their regular season slate Sunday, as they face Carolina. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center.
Rob Riches is a writer for Flyerdelphia. You can follow him on Twitter @Riches61.
