Penguins-Flyers: Pittsburgh Hangs Tight, Deals Philadelphia First Loss

For the Flyers, vengeance will have to come another day. 

The Pens managed to redeem themselves after an embarrassing display of athleticism and discipline against the Coyotes to hand over the Flyers' first loss of the season.  In typical Keystone Clash style, this matchup did not go without some fights and a little blood.

Special teams improved for the Pens especially when Malkin netted a power play goal before the first minute of the game lapsed.  However, it would be the only power play goal for the Pens as they would not be able to stop a five on three that lasted over a minute. 

While it was frustrating to see the Pens' unusual inability to convert with the man advantage, the power play has been looking very solid.  Ray Emery was at his best on the penalty kill and stymied the Pens a few times, which kept the Flyers alive.  The five on three power plays must end with the red goal light and not a successful kill.

Penalty kill wasn't the best I've seen from the Pens, but this stick-breaking in the middle of a penalty kill has become a disadvantage to the Pens lately.  Cooke broke his stick in the middle of a kill and awkwardly blocked a shot that sent to the puck to Briere, who netted his second of the game.  Can the Pens really do anything about that?  Not really.  The PK will be back in shape.

With the majority of game played short handed, on the power play or four-on-four for either team, it looked like the intense rivalry between the cross-state teams only worsened since the Pens sent the Flyers to the golf course after coming back from a 3-0 deficit in last season's playoffs. 

Speaking as not only a Pens fan, but as an athlete who hates seeing stupidity cause injuries, I do not like what I am seeing from the Flyers.  I am all for their hard-hitting, in-your-face style they have perfected, but there comes a point where it gets ridiculous.  That point was reached last night.

In the waning seconds of the game, the Flyers mustered their final rush to the net which ended with Richards barging into Fleury, sending them both into the net, Hartnell and Letang got tangled up and then Pronger awkwardly held Kunitz by the throat.  I give Letang props for body slamming Hartnell, but it didn't come without a suspicious injury. 

Letang ran to the locker room, looking visibly upset about something that happened in the scrum with Hartnell. 

I'm uncertain if this has been confirmed, but word on the street is that Hartnell bit Letang.  Whether this was by accident or on purpose, biting does not belong in the NHL.  I'm sure we will be hearing about this shortly, especially if the NHL deems this punishable.

The Flyers played their game last night: intimidation.  To say they want revenge from last season and season before is a deep understatement.  However, the Pens are above this foolish game of intimidation.  They play a strong north-south game that may get undisciplined at times, but hardly involves the ridiculous antics we saw last night. 

They need to stick to that game plan, stop the retaliation penalties and let their responses show on the scoreboard, not the penalty sheet.

For the fourth game, I was impressed with Tyler Kennedy.  He scored the game winner practically on his stomach and truly fought the entire 60 minutes.  Goligoski is slowly establishing himself as not only a solid offensive-defensemen, but a dependable player in his own end. 

There have been a few skeptics who thought he would play too much offense and forget that he wasn't a third winger.  Certainly not the case.  He will lead the Pens' defensemen in scoring this season if he stays healthy and continues this improvement.

A little surprise for Pens and Flyers fans was the lack of Crosby on the score sheet.  Crosby, who makes a habit of saving his best tricks for the Philly faithful, was held pointless in this game.  With that said, he went 21 for 24 in the faceoff circle.  A staggering 88 percent. 

Unreal. 

Crosby was also a huge factor in the Malkin's and Guerin's goals.  His net presence during the Pens' first power play may have redirected the puck into the net, but regardless, there was net presence that distracted Emery.  The Pens need to be doing this more often.  Billy Guerin, this was why we signed you.

Crosby also rang a shot off of the goal post immediately after Briere's second goal, the second time in the game the Flyers showed weakness the shift after a goal was scored.  This set the tone for a huge turnover that would lead to a bad change on the Flyers' part and ultimately a Guerin goal. 

I've noticed a change in Crosby's play; he is playing more sound defense. 

Crosby now kills penalties and had a blocked shot in the game.  If his goal to better his defense and shooting mirrors the improvement of last year's goal to raise his faceoff percentage, then we should expect nothing but an even more rounded Crosby by the end of the season.

Things aren't looking bad for the Pens at this time, but I'm beginning to wonder if the Flyers truly addressed their issues from last season.  Emery, certainly an upgrade from Biron, has allowed ten goals in two games. 

Pronger hasn't been a huge threat to the Pens' relentless offensive attack nor has he thrown that elbow Flyers fans insist is coming Crosby's way.  Time will only tell, but my feelings that the Flyers were most improved coming into this season might have to be put on hold.

So far, in the battle of the Keystone Clash, the Pens prove that they're still the better team.