The Pittsburgh Penguins have endured a lot of hardship this year, and Wednesday's game against Philadelphia felt like a microcosm of these troubles. Evgeni Malkin (day-to-day) sat out due to injury, as did Kris Letang (with a concussion) and several other defensemen, forcing Mike Johnston to dress only five blue liners. At a unique advantage, the Flyers, a team long out of playoff contention, came into the Pens' house and earned a 4-1 victory. Somehow, Philadelphia is 11-1-1 at CONSOL Energy Center.
NHL scores: Penguins fall to Flyers, Leafs downed by Sabres
Pittsburgh lost yet again to Philadelphia, and Toronto’s woeful season hit another low.
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has dropped seven of its last 10.
All things considered, the Penguins are not in a terrible situation. They’re all but guaranteed to make the postseason, and a strong finish could earn them home ice advantage in the first round. Should Pittsburgh get healthy, shake off this recent slump and find a rhythm, it could do a lot of damage this spring.
For now, though, it’s unclear if the Pens are legitimate contenders or destined for an early exit. At least we won’t have to wait long to learn in which category they belong.
Scores
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
3 things we learned
1. Ducks will raise a banner next fall
The Anaheim Ducks clinched their third straight Pacific Division title on Wednesday by downing the Edmonton Oilers, 5-1. With a four-point cushion over the rest of the NHL, Bruce Boudreau’s club is the favorite to finish first in the Western Conference and win the President’s Trophy.
2. The Leafs need the season to end -- badly
Toronto continues to find new ways to embarrass itself. Not only did the Leafs lose to the Sabres, 4-3, they lost the shot attempts battle to the worst possession team in the advanced stats era. Said head coach Peter Horacek: “It looked like training camp out there.” That’s putting it mildly.
3. Justin Schultz needs to focus more on controlling the puck
Woof.
Impact moment
Matt Ellis scored the game-winner for Buffalo with a gorgeous backhand shot. Given their place in the standings, this goal could have significant, negative consequences for the Sabres. By earning two points in the standings, Buffalo has moved within two points of 29th-place Arizona. The team that finishes in last will be the only one guaranteed a top two pick -- which means getting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.
Stat of the night
Leafs have now lost 15 of 17 in Buffalo
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 2, 2015 See More:
