Surging Penguins rout Flyers

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

As the Stanley Cup playoffs approach, the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing with the confidence that they can beat any team in the NHL.

The rival Philadelphia Flyers are just trying to get into the postseason.

Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennett and Patric Hornqvist scored to help Pittsburgh build an early lead, and the surging Penguins equaled their longest winning streak of the season at six games with a 6-2 victory over the Flyers on Sunday.

“I think that when our team plays the game the right way, we’re as good as any team and we can beat anybody,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

Crosby scored his 33rd goal, Bennett his sixth and Hornqvist his 21st as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 advantage midway through the second period. Carl Hagelin added his 12th and Eric Fehr scored twice in the third period for the Penguins, who won for the 12 time in 13 games. They moved five points ahead of the third-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division.

Pittsburgh, in the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, reached 100 points for the 10th time in team history. The Penguins have scored at least five goals in five of their last seven games.

“Everybody is playing the right way and doing a good job of creating momentum no matter who’s out there,” Crosby said. “If they don’t score, they’re putting the other team on their heels for the next line.”

Matt Murray stopped 28 shots for Pittsburgh, starting back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He earned his first NHL shutout Saturday against the New York Islanders, filling in for Marc-Andre Fleury, who is out with a concussion. There is no timetable for Fleury’s return.

“It was a challenge and something new for me, but I like playing games and I thought I played pretty well this weekend,” Murray said.

Wayne Simmonds matched a career high with his 29th goal, and Jakub Voracek scored his 11th for the Flyers, who remained one point ahead of Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.