Crosby, Penguins defeat Flyers, take lead in East Division

Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins take the lead in the MassMutual East Division with a 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

"A good chunk of guys have been a part of this, this rivalry, for a while," said Crosby, the Pittsburgh captain, who has scored 115 points (49 goals, 66 assists) in 77 games against Philadelphia. "[Games] seem to be more intense. More emotional. That should bring out everyone's best."
Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists, Evgeni Malkin had two assists, and Tristan Jarry made 30 saves for the Penguins (35-16-3), who have won seven of their past nine and are two points ahead of the second-place Washington Capitals in the eight-team division.
Malkin missed 23 games because of a lower-body injury before returning with an assist in a 7-2 loss to the Flyers here Monday to open the back-to-back set.
Brian Elliott made 24 saves in his 500th NHL game, and Claude Giroux had two assists for the Flyers (23-23-7), who have lost four of five.
"It was really special," Elliott said. "To be able to play 500 games in this league is an accomplishment I'm really proud of. I tried to soak it in and enjoy the moment. It's not ideal the way it turned out, but it's kind of how the season was going a little bit."
The Penguins, Capitals, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders have clinched the four Stanley Cup Playoff berths from the East.
"I know, as a group, we weren't pleased with the effort that we had last night," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We wanted to be better. I thought, to a man, we were a much better team tonight. I thought it started with our leaders."

Marcus Pettersson put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 1:44 of the first period. He skated above the crease and tucked a backhand through the five-hole for his second goal of the season and first in 42 games (Jan. 17).
Guentzel made it 2-0 on the power play at 3:10 of the second period by shooting under Elliott as the goalie fell on his back.
Crosby extended the lead to 3-0 at 5:44. He reached back around Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provorov to deflect a shot from Pettersson in the right face-off circle.
"I think it was safe to figure Sid had a tough game last night and, him being the player that he is and the great player that he is, he'd want to have a bounce-back game," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said of Crosby, who scored Monday but was minus-4. "He certainly did. It was a game that unfolded like many of the ones that we've had in the past."
Justin Braun cut it to 3-1 by collecting a loose puck around the crease for a wrist shot at 8:21. It was Braun's first goal in 68 games since scoring against Pittsburgh on Jan. 21, 2020.
Sean Couturier shot off the skate of Penguins forward Jeff Carter to make it 3-2 at 18:40.
Jason Zucker extended the Pittsburgh lead to 4-2 with a wrist shot at 7:49 of the third period.

Travis Konecny cut it to 4-3 when he centered the puck and it went in off Penguins defenseman John Marino at 10:23.
Crosby made it 5-3 with a one-timer at 12:33.
Crosby and Guentzel, Pittsburgh's first-line center and left wing, each has scored 23 goals this season. First-line right wing Bryan Rust has scored 22.
"We weren't happy with last night, for sure," Guentzel said. "Particularly our line, we needed to be better. I think that tonight, from the start, we were good."
Mark Friedman pushed the lead to 6-3 with an empty-net goal at 15:53 before Marino scored on the power play for the 7-3 final at 16:57.
The Penguins were 2-for-3 on the power play after they were 2-for-4 on Monday.
"Obviously, we have to be better," Couturier said. "Not too sure what exactly the problem is, but definitely need to be better."
NOTES: It was Crosby's 151st NHL game with at least three points, which is the most since he entered the League in the 2005-06 season. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is second with 116 in that span. … Elliott is 254-155-49 in the NHL. … Jarry played his 100th NHL game. He is 58-29-7.