In a disappointing display, the Philadelphia Flyers suffered a significant defeat on March 25, 2024, as they fell 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This loss marked a stark contrast to their previous performances, particularly in penalty killing, where the Flyers allowed a season-high three power-play goals.
The Flyers entered the game with a robust penalty-killing record, frequently ranked among the top five in the league. However, they faced a formidable challenge from the Penguins, who capitalized on their power-play opportunities. The first of these goals came from Sidney Crosby, a player with a long history of success against Philadelphia. Crosby, now 38, scored his 58th and 59th career goals against the Flyers, bringing his total points against them to an impressive 137.
Injury and Penalty Troubles
Adding to the Flyers’ woes, top scorer Tyson Foerster exited the game in the second period due to an upper-body injury and did not return. The team struggled to find momentum, which was evident as they took several penalties, leading to the Penguins’ scoring opportunities.
“It [the penalty kill] has been good all year but it struggled tonight,” said Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet. “They get a lot of shots in the middle, and that’s when you usually score power-play goals. We have to clean up the PK and improve our structure.”
Players who frequently participate in penalty killing echoed Tocchet’s sentiments. Sean Couturier noted, “All year the PK has been great for us. Tonight we didn’t have it. They picked us apart. Sometimes we don’t have it. Give them credit; they made plays.” Noah Cates expressed confusion over the number of penalties taken, saying, “Kind of weird penalties in the second [period] there. You just have to learn from this.”
Crosby’s Continued Dominance
Crosby’s first power-play goal came shortly after a Pittsburgh penalty expired in the first period. Following a shot from Bryan Rust that resulted in a rebound, Crosby was quick to capitalize at 9:18. Despite having opportunities against Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, the Flyers struggled to convert their chances.
In the second period, the Flyers did manage to score a five-on-three power-play goal through Foerster early on. However, Crosby responded with another power-play goal at 8:08, extending his dominance. The Penguins’ power play, ranked second in the NHL, struck again with Rust scoring at 15:52, driving the Flyers further into a corner.
The third period saw Thomas Novak add another goal for Pittsburgh at 13:52, bringing the score to 4-1. Although Kevin Hayes found the net for the Flyers at 15:33, it was not enough to change the outcome.
Despite the loss, Tocchet achieved a personal milestone earlier in the week, recording his 300th NHL win on March 23, 2024, against New Jersey. His current winning percentage stands at .646, which, if maintained, would be the second-highest of his career.
The Flyers will continue their six-game homestand with a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on March 27, 2024. In roster news, defenseman Adam Ginning cleared waivers and was assigned to Lehigh Valley. The game’s result was not without controversy, as the Penguins had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference by Evgeni Malkin early in the third period.
Overall, the Flyers’ performance highlighted the need for improvement in their penalty-killing strategy as they look to bounce back in their upcoming games.
