First Period Mistakes Cost Flyers in 7-3 Loss to Penguins

Flyers
Dec 23, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula (5) reacts after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Last night, the Philadelphia Flyers (15-16-4) could not overcome first-period mistakes, resulting in a 7-3 loss against the cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins (16-15-5). Philly played a sloppy first period, leading the Penguins to establish an advantage they would not let go of in front of the home supporters. The Flyers enter the holiday break with a 3-7 record since the start of December, with the annual West Coast road trip next on the schedule beginning on Saturday in Anaheim, California. 

Crosby’s Dominant First Period 

Trouble started early for Philly with Bryan Rust’s opening tally 89 seconds into the game. A few minutes later, Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula ripped a shot past Tristen Jarry to tie the score at one. It was the last bit of happiness Philadelphia experienced in the opening frame. 

Penguins forward Rickard Rakell had a goal overturned on an offsides play but scored the next goal anyway, putting Pittsburgh on top again, 2-1. The Penguins scored two power-play goals in… wait for it… 89 seconds… to take a 4-1 lead into the intermission. 

Philadelphia allowed too much time and space for Sidney Crosby in the first period and paid dearly for those choices as the superstar center racked up three assists in the first period. The 37-year-old pivot picked up assists 27, 28, and 29 over the opening frame.  Crosby tied Mario Lemieux for the most assists in Pittsburgh history with 1,033 helpers in black and yellow colors. 

Flyers Fight Back in Second 

Despite facing adversity on the road, trailing by three goals, Philadelphia played a strong second period. “We talked as a group,” Flyers Coach John Tortorella stated after the game. “We felt we could get back into it. I thought we had a really good second period. (We) came out clean.” 

Philadelphia center Noah Cates cut the Penguins lead to 4-2 with a timely goal early in the middle period, cutting the lead to 4-2. For Cates, it is his fourth goal in his last four games, as his line with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster has been the best offensive unit for Philly recently. “It’s a line with confidence,” the Flyers bench boss said. “They feel they can control the puck, which they do. ‘Catesy’ has done a really good job with that. They’ve spent a lot of time in the offensive zone.” 

Flyers
Dec 23, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (46) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Flyers Captain Sean Couturier scored at 13:06 of the second period to narrow Pittsburgh’s lead to just one goal. Flyers starting netminder Sam Ersson allowed a back-breaking goal with 1:12 left to establish the multi-goal lead, 5-3, heading into the second-period break. Ersson struggled in the game, allowing five goals out of 14 shots, before being replaced after the second period by Aleksei Kolosov.

Flyers Unable to Generate Offense in the Third Period 

Philadelphia tried to fight back in the third period, but Pittsburgh secured the win with a focused defensive period in hockey. “Third period, they defended better,” Tortorella said of Pittsburgh’s effort postgame. “They blocked quite a few shots. We couldn’t get some shot through.”

Crosby scored his 10th goal of the season into an empty net for a 6-3 lead before Pittsburgh added another lead goal to finish the scoring, 7-3.  With the loss, Philadelphia falls to sixth place, while Pittsburgh moves up to the fourth position for the Holidays/ falls to sixth place.

The Flyers get a few days off around the holidays before heading out on a five-game road trip with stops in California, Nevada, and Canada before the Flyers return for a home game to South Philadelphia in 2025. Philadelphia’s next game is in Anaheim on Saturday afternoon for a rare 4 pm EST faceoff from the West Coast. 

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images