Crosby Scores Hat Trick as Penguins Rout Flyers in Game 1

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Six years ago, when the Flyers and Penguins met, there were seven goals in Game 1. Pittsburgh scored three in the first period. The Flyers then rallied for one in the second, two in the third and won the game in overtime on their way to a series win.

The Penguins scored the first three goals again to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, and then scored the next four as well.

In a night of total domination for Pittsburgh, the Flyers were embarrassed in a 7-0 loss in Game 1 in Pittsburgh.

The first period was all Pittsburgh from the drop of the puck. Brian Elliott saw three Pittsburgh shots in the first 41 seconds. Just two minutes later, the Penguins were on the board.

Kris Letang threw a shot on goal from a distance that was blockered away by Elliott back into the slot. It went right to the tape of Bryan Rust, who went upstairs on Elliott to give the Penguins the lead at 2:38.

The Flyers had a golden opportunity to tie the game at the end of a great shift for the fourth line. Jori Lehtera got the puck to the side of the net for Scott Laughton, who fanned on the shot with a wide open net and could not beat Matt Murray.

The Penguins took advantage of the miss. The Flyers failed to clear the zone moments later and Pittsburgh made them pay with a tip-in goal by Carl Hagelin.

The Flyers were able to survive an abbreviated power play for Pittsburgh and end up with 1:12 of power play time of their own. After failing to score, Evgeni Malkin exited the box and skated circles around the Flyers top power play unit, looking to change. Malkin forced his way around Shayne Gostisbehere and whipped a backhander on goal to score, making it 3-0 Pittsburgh at 14:09.

The Flyers failed to score on a late power play in an attempt to crawl back in as the Penguins carried a 3-0 lead to the first intermission. After 20 minutes, the Penguins had a 14-9 shot advantage.

The Flyers opened the second period with some decent scoring chances and some rushes that looked promising but fizzled out. Any momentum the Flyers may have been gaining were dashed once the Penguins went to the power play.

With four seconds left on the man advantage, the Flyers abandoned the front of the net and left Jake Guentzel alone in front. A tic-tac-toe passing play to the side of the net allowed Guentzel to get an easy tap in to make it 4-0.

Just over one minute later, the Flyers got out of sorts in the defensive zone again and that led to another goal. Brian Dumoulin flubbed a point shot that Sidney Crosby was able to knock out of midair and in to make it 5-0.

That chased Elliott from the game. He allowed five goals on 19 shots.

After two, it was 5-0 and shots were 28-19 in favor of Pittsburgh.

By the start of the third period, there was really no question as to the final result of the game, but for good measure, Pittsburgh didn't let up and kept piling on.

Crosby picked up two more goals to complete the hat trick and put a touchdown on the board for the Penguins, capping off a huge Game 1 for Pittsburgh's top line.

It was a relatively easy night for Murray, who made 24 saves in the game to complete the shutout win.

Petr Mrazek made 12 saves on 14 shots in relief.

The Flyers were 0-for-4 on the power play. Pittsburgh went 1-for-4 on the man advantage.

The series returns for Game 2 on Friday night from Pittsburgh. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PIT Bryan Rust (1) (Kris Letang, Jake Guentzel) 2:38
• PIT Carl Hagelin (1) (Patric Hornqvist, Riley Sheahan) 10:07
• PIT Evgeni Malkin (1) (Hagelin) 14:09

2nd Period

• PIT Guentzel (1) PP (Derick Brassard, Conor Sheary) 7:50
• PIT Sidney Crosby (1) (Brian Dumoulin, Guentzel) 9:01

3rd Period

• PIT Crosby (2) (Justin Schultz, Guentzel) 7:41
• PIT Crosby (3) (Dumoulin) 10:42

Game Statistics