Pittsburgh Penguins Can't Shake Home Losing Streak to Underdog Flyers

On paper, it looked like an easy win for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After three days of rest, the Penguins (3-1-0) hosted the Philadelphia Flyers (1-3-2) for NBCSN's "Wednesday Night Rivalry." The Penguins have looked solid in the season's early going, while the Flyers have struggled—particularly on defense.

Philadelphia was also dealing with the tougher schedule. While the Penguins have played just one road game so far this year, the Flyers had to travel to Pittsburgh after being shut out 4-0 by the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Those circumstances should have been set the stage for a Pittsburgh victory, but it was the Flyers who once again exercised their unusual knack for picking up wins at Consol Energy Center. The Flyers earned a well-deserved two points on Wednesday by a final score of 5-3.

The win extends Philadelphia's record at Consol to 10-1-1 in the regular season, according to Dejan Kovacevic of DK on Pittsburgh Sports. The streak stretches back to October 7, 2010, when the Flyers spoiled Pittsburgh's party with a 3-2 win in the first ever game at Consol.

The Penguins came out strong on Wednesday, opening the scoring with Nick Spaling's first as a Penguin three minutes and second into the first period, just after the conclusion of a Chris VandeVelde penalty. The Flyers answered back with two goals of their own on just seven shots in the opening frame.

It was downhill from there for Pittsburgh.

"Our second period wasn't good," Sidney Crosby told reporters after the game. "We still found a way to get ourselves back in the game, but we didn't set ourselves up for the third. It wasn't quite the way we wanted to play, but still, it's a tied game going into the third and we have a bad third period."

When asked for a fresh take on the Flyers' apparent invincibility at Consol, new coach Mike Johnston suggested that his team's problem is largely mental:

"

When a team does that to you in your own building, you’ve got to take a look at maybe you’re trying to force things too much, maybe you’re on edge too much. And you really can’t get that way. You’ve got to stay with the focus of the next shift.

"

Johnston will have plenty of time to exorcise the demons. The Flyers won't return to Consol until April 1, 2015.

Wednesday's game did feature one positive outcome. The Penguins' new throwback third jerseys were a big hit!

It might be just the right time to hit the road, where the Penguins can draw inspiration from their rivals in a back-to-back situation of their own. Pittsburgh's in Detroit on Thursday night to face the Red Wings (3-1-2).

Johnston will be looking for safer neutral-zone play from his group on Thursday after telling reporters that the Flyers "counterpunched" off some dangerous moves from his players. "I really thought that’s what turned the momentum in their favor in the second," Johnston mused.

Pittsburgh will also be looking to get the power play back on track after going 0-for-2 on Wednesday—the first game this year where the Penguins have failed to score with the man advantage.

Wednesday also marked the first pointless games of the year for Sidney Crosby. After missing the entire preseason with an undisclosed injury, Evgeni Malkin is now the only Penguin with points in all five of the team's games so far.

Wednesday's loss dropped Pittsburgh to fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at 3-2-0. A win on Thursday would boost the team back up among the division leaders.