Bryz stops Pens rally, Flyers win fourth straight

December 9, 2011

The Flyers returned to the Wells Fargo Center on a three game win streak Thursday night.

They were, and still are, without their captain Chris Pronger, while the Penguins were also without their captain Sidney Crosby, who sat out as a concussion related precaution. As for Pronger, still know one knows what is going on with him.

So the two rivals, playing each other for the first time this season, faced-off without their captains. And for Maxime Talbot, it was his first time playing the Penguins, since coming over to Philadelphia.

Danny Briere scored (8, 6:38) to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the first period. He scored the only goal of the period.

Flyers.NHL.com, Getty Images

In the second, Wayne Simmonds scored a power play goal (6, 8:42), followed by a one-timer goal by Scott Hartnell (13, 13:32) from Andrej Meszaros, that gave the Flyers a three goal lead.

James Neal scored on the power play for Pittsburgh (15, 14:10) to make the score 3-1 heading into the third.

Then the Penguins started putting the pressure on.

Evgeni Malkin scored (10, 8:21) to to cut the Flyer's lead down to just one.

Flyers.NHL.com, Getty Images

But Ilya Bryzgalov was able to keep the Penguins out of the net for the remainder of the period.

Bryzgalov made 25 saves on the night, while the opposing goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 26.

The Flyers won 3-2, and took control of first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference in the process.

With a 17-7-3 record and 37 points, the Flyers have a two point lead over Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division, and have a one point lead over the Florida Panthers in the conference.

After playing their second game in as many nights, the Flyers will have an off night before playing the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.


Flyers.NHL.com
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2011020409

ESPN.com
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400046922