The Penguins came out firing and fought off a challenge from the Flyers for a win in their final game before Christmas, to take a firmer grip on fourth place in the Metro Division. Here’s Paul Steigerwald. (7-3 win.)
The win was just the Penguins’ second in nine games this season against Metro Division rivals.
In addition to Bunting’s two goals, the Penguins got goals from Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Blake Lizotte, and Philip Thomasino. Crosby’s top line had a combined nine points.
Coach Mike Sullivan says the Penguins have gotten themselves back into the playoff race because of their willingness to work hard.
Sullivan says Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell play so well together because their skills compliment each other and they like working in the battle zones in front of the net.
Sidney Crosby tied Mario Lemieux for the most assists in Penguins’ history, with 1,033.
Typically humble, Crosby pointed out that Lemieux didn’t play as long as he has. (Lemieux played 393 fewer games than Crosby has.)
Crosby says the Penguins will get some much-needed rest before they play back-to-back games against the Islanders, in New York on Saturday and in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Defenseman Owen Pickering was placed on injured reserve yesterday with an upper body injury that Sullivan said was a concussion. Defenseman Nate Clurman was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and was a healthy scratch.
Defenseman Marcus Pettersson skated before the team practiced yesterday. He’s on injured reserved with a lower body injury.
