Flyers knock off Pens

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

There were two fights, nearly a couple of others and nine penalties, and that was only the first 2:35 of play. Obviously, the Flyers and Penguins don’t like each other.

What the Penguins dislike most is losing what Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo calls “The Battle of Pennsylvania.” At home. To a rookie goalie. For the second time this month.

Claude Giroux scored short-handed and on a power play and Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves to win again in Pittsburgh, leading the Flyers to a 3-2 victory over the slumping Penguins on Friday night.

Kris Letang scored a few minutes after the early nastiness settled down, but the Penguins repeatedly squandered chances after that by going 0 for 6 on the power play. They are 0 for 20 in four games, three of them losses.

“It’s obviously frustrating,” captain Sidney Crosby said, referring not only to the power play but the result.

With the teams tied at 1, Carcillo redirected Matt Carle’s soft wrist shot between Marc-Andre Fleury’s pads 13:34 into the second period and the Flyers never trailed again. Carcillo was scratched in three of the previous five games.

“I wanted to get Danny back in there because we are on the road, in Pittsburgh, and they’ve got some tough players in their lineup,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “He brings a physical element.”

Giroux sealed it midway through the third with his sixth goal, punching the puck past Fleury after a scramble in front of the Pittsburgh net in which three Flyers had scoring chances.