PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 in a National Hockey League game Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Evgeni Malkin added two assists to lead the Penguins before a crowd of 17,963. Pittsburgh built a 4-0 lead with two goals in each of the first two periods. Bryan Rust, Justin Brazeau, Yegor Chinakhov and Blake Lizotte scored. Philadelphia’s Rodrigo Abols scored in the second period, and Nick Seeler and Matvei Michkov scored in the third, but the Flyers could not close the gap. Connor Dewar and Crosby scored in the final frame for Pittsburgh. Both teams are now 22-24. The Penguins went 2 for 5 on the power play. The Flyers were 0 for 4. Michkov finished with a goal and seven penalty minutes for Philadelphia.

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Penguins delivered a decisive and comprehensive victory over their intrastate rivals, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. Fueled by a balanced offensive attack and a dominant first period, the Penguins improved their record to 22-24, pulling even with the Flyers, who fell to 22-24 after their third consecutive loss. A crowd of 17,963 watched as Pittsburgh set the tone early, outshooting Philadelphia 18-7 in the opening frame and building a lead they would not relinquish. The Penguins’ top line, led by captain Sidney Crosby, was instrumental from the start. Crosby opened the scoring on the power play at 12:25 of the first period, converting a crisp passing sequence from Kris Letang and Bryan Rust for his 25th goal of the season. Just over five minutes later, Pittsburgh doubled its advantage. Justin Brazeau, stationed in front of the net, deflected a Ben Kindel shot past Flyers starting goaltender Samuel Ersson at the 17:44 mark, with Anthony Mantha also assisting. The Penguins continued their onslaught in the second period. Yegor Chinakhov extended the lead to 3-0 just 2:16 into the frame, finishing a play set up by Evgeni Malkin and Thomas Novak. Philadelphia briefly interrupted the momentum when Rodrigo Abols tipped in a Cam York point shot at 4:17, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Pittsburgh quickly snuffed out any hope of a comeback. Blake Lizotte restored the three-goal cushion at 16:29 of the second, pouncing on a rebound after a Noel Acciari chance to beat Ersson, who was replaced by Aleksei Kolosov after the goal. Kolosov finished with 16 saves on 19 shots in relief. The third period saw a flurry of activity. The Penguins’ Connor Dewar made it 5-1 at 12:27, assisted by Novak, who finished with two helpers. Philadelphia responded with a pair of goals to create a semblance of drama. Defenseman Nick Seeler scored at 10:54, and rookie standout Matvei Michkov added his 10th of the season on the power play at 11:25, bringing the Flyers within two. Any lingering suspense was extinguished by Crosby and the Penguins’ veteran core. Just 50 seconds after Michkov’s goal, Crosby won an offensive zone faceoff back to Malkin, who fed Rickard Rakell. Rakell’s centering pass found Crosby alone in the slot, and the Pittsburgh captain buried his second of the night to seal the 6-3 final. The game featured a notable third-period fight between Philadelphia’s Michkov and Pittsburgh’s Lizotte, with both players receiving fighting majors. Michkov also took a roughing penalty on the play, contributing to a seven-minute penalty night for the Flyers’ winger. Pittsburgh goaltender Stuart Skinner earned the win with 35 saves, weathering a 38-shot effort from the Flyers. The Penguins’ penalty kill was perfect, negating all three Philadelphia power plays, while their own power play went 1 for 4. The result continued a troubling trend for the Flyers, who have been outscored 16-5 during their current three-game skid. For the Penguins, the win provided a positive start to a critical homestand and showcased the depth of their scoring, with six different players recording goals. According to pregame projections, National Statistical’s game simulator had predicted a 3-2 Pittsburgh victory, with the Penguins holding a 54.4% probability to win. The combined nine goals surpassed the over/under line of 5.5, and Pittsburgh covered the spread as a 1.5-goal favorite. Both teams return to action on Saturday. The Flyers will host the New York Rangers, while the Penguins will welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets to PPG Paints Arena.

Rivalry Renewed as Flyers Visit Penguins in Key Metropolitan Division Clash PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, two franchises defined by their bitter rivalry, will add another chapter Thursday night when they meet at PPG Paints Arena. Both teams enter the contest looking to stabilize their seasons. The visiting Flyers (22-22-0) have lost three straight, including a 5-1 defeat to Tampa Bay on Monday. The Penguins (21-24-0) have dropped three of their last four but are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Lightning on Tuesday. A player to watch for Philadelphia is center Christian Dvorak, who has been a bright spot during the team’s recent skid. He has points in four of his last five games, including a goal in Monday’s loss. For Pittsburgh, forward Justin Brazeau has emerged as an offensive threat. He recorded a hat trick against Chicago on Dec. 28 and has four goals and an assist in his last six appearances. The season series is split 1-1. The Penguins dominated the last meeting, a 5-1 victory in Philadelphia on Dec. 1. The Flyers won the first matchup 3-2 in a shootout on Oct. 28. National Statistical’s game simulator projects a 3-2 victory for the Penguins. The game carries weight in a crowded Metropolitan Division. Following Thursday’s contest, the Flyers return home to host the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Penguins will remain home to face the Columbus Blue Jackets that same night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.