For the Flyers, it may be home away from home. The Consol Energy Center has been friendly to the Orange and Black, and after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Blackhawks, perhaps this was just what the doctor ordered.
The Penguins got the game's first goal, but the Flyers took control in the second and third periods to claim their second victory of the season, a 5-3 win over the Penguins on Wednesday night. With the win, the Flyers improved to 10-1-1 in their last 12 regular-season games at the Consol Energy Center.
The Penguins struck for the game's first goal. Following a power play, Nick Spaling scored to give the Penguins the lead just 3:50 into the game. In the first few minutes of the game, the Penguins out-shot the Flyers, 9-3.
The Flyers would respond, getting a goal from Mark Streit at 9:20 of the first. Streit's shot from the point deflected and beat Marc-Andre Fleury.
It was a memorable moment for new Flyer on the second goal of the period. Sean Couturier escaped from the penalty box following a Pittsburgh power play and threaded a pass to Pierre-Edouard Bellemare who tipped it past Fleury for his first NHL goal, giving the Flyers the lead.
The only goal of the second period went to the Penguins. Following an icing call on the Flyers, Paul Martin's shot off the face-off was deflected by Pascal Dupuis for the game-tying goal. Despite the equalizer, the Flyers out-shot the Penguins, 17-6, in the second.
In the deciding third, it was the Flyers breaking through first. A loose puck made its way to R.J. Umberger, who beat Fleury for the go-ahead goal at 6:50 of the third.
Two minutes later, Couturier put a perfect pass on the tape of Matt Read, who back-handed a shot past a sprawling Fleury to extend the lead to two.
Just moments before Umberger's goal, Ray Emery made the best of his 22 saves, robbing Evgeni Malkin on the doorstep.
The Penguins did manage to make things interesting, as Marcel Goc cut the lead to one with 2:57 remaining. Emery stood tall in net in the final two minutes to keep the Penguins off the board.
But the Flyers stood their ground with Emery standing tall in net and Couturier icing the game with an empty-net goal at 19:33.
Couturier joined Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek in recording two assists on the night. Umberger picked up the Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring in the third, assisting on Read's goal and fighting Pittsburgh's Simon Despres after a hit on Couturier in the first.
The Flyers improved to 2-3-2 on the season following a 2-1-0 road trip. They return home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.
Kevin Durso is Managing Editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
