Pens end skid vs. Flyers

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Phil Kessel scored twice and Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Thursday night to end a long losing streak to their cross-state rival.

Crosby continued his five-game point streak for the Penguins, who defeated the Flyers for the first time since Oct. 17, 2013, ending a eight-game winless streak. Crosby endured the worst start of his career this season but has points in 12 of his last 15 games including his 15th goal on Thursday.

Phil Kessel scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season and Trevor Daley scored his fourth for the Penguins, who defeated the Flyers in Pittsburgh for the first time since March 24, 2013.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for his 17th win and Steve Mason stopped 41 shots.

Pittsburgh extended a six-game home point streak, winning for just the third time overall in eight games to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Jakub Voracek kept up his seven-game point streak against Pittsburgh with his sixth goal of the season. Claude Giroux scored his 14th, a power-play goal late in the third, but the Flyers couldn’t forget a tie despite a surge in the final minute.

Brayden Schenn scored his 11th on the power play for the Flyers, who are now 13-3-1 overall and 11-2-1 in 14 regular-season games since Consol Energy Center opened in 2010.

The Flyers dropped their second straight overall after winning five of their previous seven. Philadelphia, which could’ve jumped the Penguins in the standings, has 17 wins in its last 25 games against Pittsburgh.

The rivals met for the first time in nine months - the latest date into a full season they played their first game - but the first period looked like a carryover from last season when Philadelphia swept the series.

Pittsburgh dominated the rest of the way, rallying with four straight goals and outshooting the Flyers 36-21 during the final two periods.

Kessel scored the eventual game-winner, his second of the game, early in the third, which was set up by newly acquired Carl Hagelin on a two-on-one. Kessel had gone seven games without a goal.

Philadelphia opened the scoring with a pair of first-period power-play goals.

Wayne Simmonds deflected an initial point shot from Shayne Gostisbehere and Schenn put the rebound in a partially open net for the Flyers’ first goal.

Voracek struck 12 seconds into the Flyers’ second power play with a wrist shot over Fleury’s shoulder.

Pittsburgh responded in the second period, using a pair of power-play goals to jump in front.