Flyers rally from down three to defeat Penguins

PITTSBURGH -- Claude Giroux scored the go-ahead goal with 2:08 remaining, and the Philadelphia Flyers rallied from down three goals to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

Giroux redirected a backhand shot from Nicolas Aube-Kubel to give Philadelphia its first lead of the game after falling behind 3-0 early in the first period when Pittsburgh scored three times in 1:11.
"Shortened season like this, obviously you look at the standings and a lot of teams are pretty tight," Giroux said. "For us to make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs, we need to win games like tonight. I think the way we answered tonight, we're down 3-0, I think it's our first comeback win this year. So it's good to know we can do it, and that's how we need to respond in the future."
Giroux had two goals and an assist, and Brian Elliott made 26 saves for the Flyers (12-5-3), who have won four of five games. They lost 5-2 to the Penguins on Tuesday in the first of a three-game set.
Sidney Crosby had an assist after missing one game while in the NHL COVID-19 protocol, and Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for the Penguins (12-9-1), who have lost three of five games.
"I think when you have a great start like that, it's something that has to fuel you to keep bringing the same game that you're playing," Crosby said. "Unfortunately, they pushed back. We didn't."
The teams are scheduled to play again here Saturday.
Scott Laughton had a shot from Giroux go in off his leg to tie the game 3-3 at 13:37 of the third period.
"[Giroux is] our captain. He's our leader," Laughton said. "He brings us into the fight. ... He gets a goal late for us there. He takes big face-offs. He kills penalties. He's on the power play. He does a lot for our group. So I'm happy to see him get rewarded with two tonight."
Elliott made a glove save on Evgeni Malkin from in close with 9:46 remaining to keep the Flyers within one.

Kris Letang put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 with a wrist shot 2:46 into the game before Mark Friedman beat Elliott five-hole on a rebound to make it 2-0 at 3:20.
Friedman was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia on Feb. 24. It was the defenseman's first NHL goal in his 13th game over three seasons.
Jared McCann extended the lead to 3-0 by going to the ice and tipping in a pass from Kasperi Kapanen while sliding past the left post at 3:57.
"At the end of the day, we've got to stay positive," McCann said. "We've got to keep pushing. We've got to play simple, especially in our own zone."
Flyers coach Alain Vigneault called a timeout following McCann's goal. Philadelphia outshot Pittsburgh 11-5 the rest of the period.
"There's a moment in a season where a team has a gut check," Vigneault said. "We lost that first game two days ago. For us, this was an important game. It's like a mid-playoff series. To start off the way we did was definitely not the way we anticipated, but games unfold differently. You've got to find a way."

Sean Couturier cut the Penguins lead to 3-1 with a slap shot on a power play at 11:32 of the first.
Giroux shot inside the left post with Jarry down in the crease after saving a shot from Oskar Lindblom, bringing it to 3-2 at 6:49 of the second period.
"We just didn't play the game hard enough or smart enough for the majority of the game," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "When you get up that early in games, you've got to continue to play hard. You've got to continue to do the things that brought you success."
NOTES: Flyers forward Joel Farabee did not play after going into the COVID-19 protocol Thursday. He scored two goals Tuesday. … Aube-Kubel, Lindblom and Travis Konecny each had two assists for Philadelphia. … The Flyers came back from down at least three goals to defeat the Penguins in regulation for the fourth time in their history and first since Dec. 13, 1980. … Friedman left the game at 2:35 of the second period after colliding with Philadelphia center Nolan Patrick. He also went to the locker room at 4:50 of the first, when Patrick hit him into the boards from behind, but returned a few minutes later. Sullivan did not have an update.