Letang scores in OT, Penguins defeat Flyers without Crosby, Sullivan

PITTSBURGH -- Kris Letang scored at 1:54 of overtime, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, without captain
Sidney Crosby
and coach Mike Sullivan, defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

After missing four games in NHL COVID-19 protocol, Letang wrapped a backhand around the right post for his first goal this season. The defenseman had symptoms before being cleared Monday.
Letang led all skaters with 28:54 of ice time.
"The last four days, after I got all my screenings, I tried to stay on the ice as much as I could just to get the feel back," he said. "Ten days without skating, it's a long time, so I tried to get as much as I could in the last four days. But a little tired, as expected."
Crosby did not play after he entered COVID-19 protocol Wednesday. The center has missed eight of nine games this season, including the first seven after having wrist surgery Sept. 8. Sullivan and defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson are also in COVID-19 protocol. Pittsburgh assistant Todd Reirden assumed Sullivan's duties.
Tristan Jarry made 36 saves, and Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins (4-3-2), who ended a three-game losing streak.
"There's a number of things to take from a game like that," Reirden said. "To me, going through the adversity we've gone through and being able to come out of it that way was something I pointed out with the team and was something I was really proud of how we handled it."
Scott Laughton tied it late in the third period, and Carter Hart made 33 saves for the Flyers (5-2-2), who had won three of four.
"I think it's a good point anytime you can pick it up down a goal with a couple minutes left," Laughton said. "You always want to get the extra one. I thought [Hart] played a pretty outstanding game and gave us a chance to win. He's really dialed in right now.
"I think we can do a little bit of a better job making it harder on other teams' goaltenders and throwing different things at them."

Laughton made it 2-2 at 17:08 after James van Riemsdyk stole the puck from Mike Matheson. Laughton scored on a one-timer off a backhand pass from van Riemsdyk below the goal line.
Brock McGinn gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead 16 seconds into the first period on a redirection of Matheson's shot.
Jarry made 17 saves in the first.
"Their goalie had some big saves he had to make," Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said. "That's part of today's game. You need great goaltending. We're getting some, they got some.
" … Goaltenders are a big part of today's game. You need it and Carter made some big saves, but so did their goalie today."
Travis Konecny tied it 1-1 on a power play at 7:37 of the second period. After taking a pass at the left post from Claude Giroux, Konecny turned to his right and lifted a wrist shot over the blocker.
"I feel, at times, it was a little chaotic and maybe started playing more of their style," Konecny said. "Trading opportunities. They feed into that. They have a lot of fast guys who like playing off the rush. But I feel like there were times where we played our game and I think, at those times, we dominated."
Guentzel ended a six-game goal drought at 11:46 of the second period when he fanned on an initial attempt but scored on a wrist shot from the high slot to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. It was Guentzel's first goal since his season debut Oct. 14.
"Just a different day," Guentzel said. "Kind of just found out [Sullivan] was out coming to the rink, so (it's) just kind of what we've done all year. Another guy steps up, and I think that's just what we're doing right now."
NOTES: It was Letang's seventh NHL overtime goal. … Penguins center Jeff Carter played his 1,100th NHL game and had the assist on Letang's goal. Carter has scored 767 points (400 goals, 367 assists). … Konecny ended a five-game goal drought after scoring in each of his first three this season.