NHL scores 2016: Penguins take down Flyers in a bloodless rivalry game

We used to look forward to these things.

Jan 22, 2016, 2:00 PM UTC

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Everything pointed to a typical brawl between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

Fans on both sides had traded barbs on social media for days. Both teams are in a dogfight for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Both are playing pretty well.

So you’d expect the Penguins and Flyers to engage in one of their patented spirited contests, right?

Wrong. Sort of.

Oh, the game ended up being a close one, with the Flyers trying their damnedest to mount a late third-period comeback by erasing a two-goal deficit. But when the Flyers and Penguins face off, you expect to see more than just tight contests. You expect to see real bitterness.

That wasn't on display on Thursday, as the Penguins held on to win a bloodless affair. And it's not hard to figure out why. Both clubs have become fringe playoff contenders over the last few years. The ridiculous, back-and-forth playoff matches between Stanley Cup contenders seem like ages ago. The ferocity of the rivalry has left along with the power both franchises once held.

Which is a shame. Nobody in the NHL hates each other quite like Pens and Flyers fans. Here’s hoping the two teams figure out how to pick up where they left off at some point soon.

Scores

Canucks 4, Bruins 2

Devils 6, Senators 3

Penguins 4, Flyers 3

Flames 4, Blue Jackets 2

Hurricanes 1, Maple Leafs 0 (OT)

Lightning 2, Blackhawks 1

Predators 4, Jets 1

Stars 3, Oilers 2

Sharks 3, Coyotes 1

Wild 3, Kings 0

3 things we learned

1. Good things come to an end...

Apparently the 13th straight win is insurmountable. The Panthers' historic streak ended at 12 earlier this month, and the Chicago Blackhawks' win streak came to the same end on Thursday against the Lightning in a Stanley Cup Final rematch. Things don't get easier for Chicago, which heads to face the red-hot Panthers on Friday and hosts the Blues on Sunday.

2. ...while bad things do too!

A dose of the Oilers was exactly what the Dallas Stars needed. Once the toast of the Western Conference, the Stars had yet to earn a regulation win in the entire month of January until Thursday. Dallas ended a four-game slide thanks to big games from their best players like Jason Spezza and Jamie Benn, something that couldn't be said since 2016 began. With matchups against the Flames, Jets and two games against the Avs, the upcoming four-game stretch is crucially soft for the Stars before they meet with the Blackhawks to settle Central Division scores in a week.

3. James Reimer can't buy a win

What more does Reimer need to do to get in the win column? Yet again, Reimer was brilliant for the Leafs, stopping all 40 shots he faced in regulation. And yet, he got absolutely no goal support, leading to a Jordan Staal game-winner in overtime for the Leafs. You know you've got it bad when you pitch a 40-save shutout in regulation and still end up with a loss.