Rakell, Penguins beat Flyers 4-2 in Letang’s 1,000th game

Rickard Rakell scored two objectives and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Sunday night time.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated in his 1,000th profession recreation and Bryan Rust scored in his five hundredth NHL recreation. Ryan Poehling added a late empty-net aim, and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin every had two assists. Casey DeSmith stopped 31 photographs.

Crosby is three factors from 1,500 within the NHL. He additionally tied Corridor of Famer Mario Lemieux for probably the most profession factors in opposition to the Flyers in NHL historical past with 124.

Pittsburgh rebounded from a one-goal loss in opposition to Boston on Saturday and overtook idle Florida for the second wild card within the Japanese Convention. Pittsburgh and Florida each have 5 video games remaining. Pittsburgh is making an attempt to increase its playoff streak — the longest lively in main North American sports activities leagues — to a document seventeenth consecutive season.

Travis Konecny scored his twenty ninth of the season and Nicolas Deslauriers his sixth, each within the third interval, however the Flyers could not rally from their early three-goal deficit. Samuel Ersson completed with 27 saves as Philadelphia misplaced its third straight following a four-game win streak.

The Flyers did not earn at the least one level within the season collection with Pittsburgh for the primary time in franchise historical past.

Rakell scored the primary two objectives for Pittsburgh. His slap shot from the slot caromed off the glass, hit Ersson within the again and went within the internet for the Penguins’ first aim with 8:20 left within the first interval. He added a power-play aim somewhat greater than three minutes later as he redirected Malkin’s cross behind Ersson from the slot for his twenty seventh.

Rust gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead together with his nineteenth of the season with 6:37 left within the second. He flipped a backhander previous Ersson off the push with Crosby.

SIDELINED

Flyers G Carter Hart missed his fourth straight recreation with a lower-body harm.

LETANG HITS 1,000 GAMES

Letang is the 381st participant in NHL historical past — and fortieth lively — to play in 1,000 profession video games. Letang, a third-round choose in 2005, made his NHL debut in opposition to the Flyers on Oct. 5, 2006.

Letang joined Crosby and Malkin as the one gamers in franchise historical past to skate in 1,000 profession video games with the Penguins. Pittsburgh is the second crew in NHL historical past to have a trio of teammates play their first 1,000 video games collectively.

Letang has endured a tumultuous highway to 1,000 video games, together with important struggles earlier this season. He missed two weeks after struggling the second stroke of his profession shortly after Thanksgiving. His father handed away a few month later, and Letang spent an prolonged period of time with household in his native Montreal as teammates made an surprising cease to hitch Letang for his father’s wake on the finish of a West Coast swing.

Letang’s teammates have been there for him once more on Sunday, as they wore his No. 58 jersey and mimicked his stretching routine throughout pregame warmups. Letang’s son, Alex Letang, skated out with the crew, introduced the beginning lineup, and stood beside his dad on the blue line for the nationwide anthem.

Letang obtained presents from the crew, together with a customized photograph and a silver hockey stick commemorating the event. He was joined on the ice by his spouse and household and watched a video tribute, which included messages from Crosby and Malkin.

UP NEXT

Flyers: Proceed a four-game highway journey Tuesday at St. Louis.

Penguins: Go to New Jersey on Tuesday.

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