GAME THREAD: NHL: PITTSBURGH (15-14) at PHILADELPHIA (15-12)

NHL: PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
PITTSBURGH 2
PHILADELPHIA 8</div>

 

NHL: PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Pittsburgh 2 0 0 --2
Philadelphia 2 3 3 --8
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 7 (R.J.
Umberger, Mike Richards), 1:11. 2, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 8
(Braydon Coburn, Mike Richards), 3:44. 3, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 6
(power play) (Sidney Crosby, Sergei Gonchar), 12:39. 4, Pittsburgh,
Petr Sykora 11 (power play) (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin), 14:28.
Penalties: J Smith, Phi (major fighting), 0:20; R Malone, Pit (major
fighting), 0:20; R Potulny, Phi (slashing), 12:13; J Carter, Phi
(interference), 13:46; P Sykora, Pit (roughing), 18:51.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 4 (Joffrey
Lupul, Mike Richards), 8:10. 6, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 5 (Joffrey
Lupul, Jason Smith), 10:10. 7, Philadelphia, Mike Knuble 9 (power
play) (Joffrey Lupul, Kimmo Timonen), 19:50. Penalties: G Roberts,
Pit (high sticking), 2:24; S Gonchar, Pit (roughing), 3:33; E
Christensen, Pit (roughing), 14:10; L Kukkonen, Phi (holding), 14:10;
R Jones, Phi (hooking), 14:52; K Letang, Pit (unsportsmanlike cond),
19:02.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 8, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 9 (power play)
(Mike Knuble, Daniel Briere), 4:07. 9, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 2
(power play) (R.J. Umberger, Randy Jones), 6:09. 10, Philadelphia,
R.J. Umberger 6 (power play) (Ryan Potulny), 17:48. Penalties: G
Laraque, Pit (double minor roughing), 3:02; B Eager, Phi (major
fighting), 3:02; G Roberts, Pit (major fighting), 3:02; S Gonchar, Pit
(delay of game), 6:01; C Armstrong, Pit (roughing), 7:19; G Laraque,
Pit (cross checking), 9:50; B Orpik, Pit (slashing), 12:20; R Whitney,
Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 13:49; J Carter, Phi (major
fighting, misconduct), 13:49; C Armstrong, Pit (major fighting, game
misconduct), 13:49; S Hartnell, Phi (major fighting, game misconduct),
13:49; G Laraque, Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; D Tolpeko,
Phi (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; E Malkin, Pit (major
fighting, misconduct), 16:47.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Pittsburgh 12 8 2 --22
Philadelphia 11 14 16 --41
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Pittsburgh - 2 of 3, Philadelphia - 4 of 13.
Goalies : Pittsburgh, Dany Sabourin (25 shots, 20 saves; record:
6-5-1), Ty Conklin (start of 3rd period, 16, 13). Philadelphia, Martin
Biron (22 shots, 20 saves; record: 13-8-2). A: 19,409. Referees: Bill
Mccreary, Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Don Henderson.</div>

 

NHL: PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Pittsburgh 2 0 0 --2
Philadelphia 2 3 3 --8
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 7 (R.J.
Umberger, Mike Richards), 1:11. 2, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 8
(Braydon Coburn, Mike Richards), 3:44. 3, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 6
(power play) (Sidney Crosby, Sergei Gonchar), 12:39. 4, Pittsburgh,
Petr Sykora 11 (power play) (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin), 14:28.
Penalties: J Smith, Phi (major fighting), 0:20; R Malone, Pit (major
fighting), 0:20; R Potulny, Phi (slashing), 12:13; J Carter, Phi
(interference), 13:46; P Sykora, Pit (roughing), 18:51.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 4 (Joffrey
Lupul, Mike Richards), 8:10. 6, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 5 (Joffrey
Lupul, Jason Smith), 10:10. 7, Philadelphia, Mike Knuble 9 (power
play) (Joffrey Lupul, Kimmo Timonen), 19:50. Penalties: G Roberts,
Pit (high sticking), 2:24; S Gonchar, Pit (roughing), 3:33; E
Christensen, Pit (roughing), 14:10; L Kukkonen, Phi (holding), 14:10;
R Jones, Phi (hooking), 14:52; K Letang, Pit (unsportsmanlike cond),
19:02.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 8, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 9 (power play)
(Mike Knuble, Daniel Briere), 4:07. 9, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 2
(power play) (R.J. Umberger, Randy Jones), 6:09. 10, Philadelphia,
R.J. Umberger 6 (power play) (Ryan Potulny), 17:48. Penalties: G
Laraque, Pit (double minor roughing), 3:02; B Eager, Phi (major
fighting), 3:02; G Roberts, Pit (major fighting), 3:02; S Gonchar, Pit
(delay of game), 6:01; C Armstrong, Pit (roughing), 7:19; G Laraque,
Pit (cross checking), 9:50; B Orpik, Pit (slashing), 12:20; R Whitney,
Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 13:49; J Carter, Phi (major
fighting, misconduct), 13:49; C Armstrong, Pit (major fighting, game
misconduct), 13:49; S Hartnell, Phi (major fighting, game misconduct),
13:49; G Laraque, Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; D Tolpeko,
Phi (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; E Malkin, Pit (major
fighting, misconduct), 16:47.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Pittsburgh 12 8 2 --22
Philadelphia 11 14 15 --40
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Pittsburgh - 2 of 3, Philadelphia - 4 of 13.
Goalies : Pittsburgh, Dany Sabourin (25 shots, 20 saves; record:
6-5-1), Ty Conklin (start of 3rd period, 15, 12). Philadelphia, Martin
Biron (22 shots, 20 saves; record: 13-8-2). A: 19,409. Referees: Bill
Mccreary, Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Don Henderson.</div>

 

NHL: PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH 2 0 0 --2
PHILADELPHIA 2 3 3 --8
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 7 (R.J.
Umberger, Mike Richards), 1:11. 2, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 8
(Braydon Coburn, Mike Richards), 3:44. 3, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 6
(power play) (Sidney Crosby, Sergei Gonchar), 12:39. 4, Pittsburgh,
Petr Sykora 11 (power play) (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin), 14:28.
Penalties: J Smith, Phi (major fighting), 0:20; R Malone, Pit (major
fighting), 0:20; R Potulny, Phi (slashing), 12:13; J Carter, Phi
(interference), 13:46; P Sykora, Pit (roughing), 18:51.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 4 (Joffrey
Lupul, Mike Richards), 8:10. 6, Philadelphia, R.J. Umberger 5 (Joffrey
Lupul, Jason Smith), 10:10. 7, Philadelphia, Mike Knuble 9 (power
play) (Joffrey Lupul, Kimmo Timonen), 19:50. Penalties: G Roberts,
Pit (high sticking), 2:24; S Gonchar, Pit (roughing), 3:33; E
Christensen, Pit (roughing), 14:10; L Kukkonen, Phi (holding), 14:10;
R Jones, Phi (hooking), 14:52; K Letang, Pit (unsportsmanlike cond),
19:02.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 8, Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul 9 (power play)
(Mike Knuble, Daniel Briere), 4:07. 9, Philadelphia, Braydon Coburn 2
(power play) (R.J. Umberger, Randy Jones), 6:09. 10, Philadelphia,
R.J. Umberger 6 (power play) (Ryan Potulny), 17:48. Penalties: G
Laraque, Pit (double minor roughing), 3:02; B Eager, Phi (major
fighting), 3:02; G Roberts, Pit (major fighting), 3:02; S Gonchar, Pit
(delay of game), 6:01; C Armstrong, Pit (roughing), 7:19; G Laraque,
Pit (cross checking), 9:50; B Orpik, Pit (slashing), 12:20; R Whitney,
Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 13:49; J Carter, Phi (major
fighting, misconduct), 13:49; C Armstrong, Pit (major fighting, game
misconduct), 13:49; S Hartnell, Phi (major fighting, game misconduct),
13:49; G Laraque, Pit (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; D Tolpeko,
Phi (major fighting, misconduct), 16:47; E Malkin, Pit (major
fighting, misconduct), 16:47.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH 12 8 2 --22
PHILADELPHIA 11 14 15 --40
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: PIT - 2 of 3, PHI - 4 of 13. Goalies :
Pittsburgh, Dany Sabourin (25 shots, 20 saves; record: 6-5-1), Ty
Conklin (start of 3rd period, 15, 12). Philadelphia, Martin Biron (22
shots, 20 saves; record: 13-8-2). A: 19,409. Referees: Bill Mccreary,
Chris Rooney. Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Don Henderson.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

PITTSBURGH PHILADELPHIA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
G Roberts 0 0 -1 1 R Potulny 0 1 even 2
J Staal 0 0 even 2 J Lupul 3 3 +4 12
R Malone 0 0 -1 2 J Carter 0 0 even 1
E Christensen 0 0 even 0 M Richards 0 3 +4 4
P Sykora 1 0 -1 1 S Hartnell 0 0 even 1
A Hall 0 0 -1 0 R Umberger 3 2 +4 8
R Whitney 1 0 -4 5 J Smith 0 1 +2 1
C Armstrong 0 0 -2 1 M Knuble 1 1 even 3
G Laraque 0 0 even 0 S Kapanen 0 0 even 0
M Eaton 0 0 even 0 L Kukkonen 0 0 even 0
J Ruutu 0 0 -1 0 K Timonen 0 1 +2 2
R Scuderi 0 0 -4 1 D Briere 0 1 even 0
B Orpik 0 0 even 1 B Coburn 1 1 +3 1
T Kennedy 0 0 -1 2 D Tolpeko 0 0 even 0
S Gonchar 0 1 even 2 B Eager 0 0 even 0
K Letang 0 0 even 2 R Jones 0 1 +1 0
E Malkin 0 1 -1 1 R Fitzpatrick 0 0 even 1
S Crosby 0 2 -3 1 S Upshall 0 0 even 4
D Sydor HEALTHY D Hatcher HEALTHY
M Talbot ANKLE INJURY J Dowd HEALTHY
M Fleury ANKLE INJURY</div>

 

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Joffrey Lupul, R.J. Umberger and thePhiladelphia Flyers put an emphatic end to their home-ice woes.

Lupul had a six-point night, including his first regular-seasonhat trick, as the Flyers pounded the Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-2,on Tuesday night.


Umberger also recorded his first career hat trick and added twoassists, while Mike Richards set up three tallies for theFlyers.


"Everywhere I went, the puck seemed to be bouncing in the airand falling right to me," Lupul said. "It was just one of thosegames. Umberger and Richards had good nights, too."

Philadelphia won its first six home games as part of asurprisingly fast start to the season. Still among the leadersin the Atlantic Division, the Flyers entered Tuesday 0-3-2 intheir last five on home ice. Lupul scored the first two goals ofthe game, giving the Flyers an early 2-0 lead.


"I haven't been able to score in a while," Lupul said. "I washoping for a goal or one point. Three and three is kind of anice way to break out."


After receiving a pass from Richards at the blue line, Umbergerskated to the left faceoff circle before making a cross-ice feedto Lupul, who banged the puck past the glove side of Pittsburghgoaltender Dany Sabourin just 71 seconds into the contest.

Lupul started the rush that produced his second goal of thenight as he knocked the puck out of the Flyers' zone toRichards. Lupul ended up with the loose puck at the right pointand fired a slap shot that beat Sabourin high to the stick sideat 3:44.


"We were excited," Lupul said. "We came out and got the twoearly ones, and I think that our mind set was really goodtonight. We stuck with it and took the game over in the secondperiod."


Pittsburgh got consecutive power-play goals in the openingsession from defenseman Ryan Whitney and Petr Sykora to even thegame at 2-2. Whitney got a cross-ice feed from Sidney Crosbyat the left circle and fired a wrist shot that beat netminderMartin Biron high to the glove side at 12:39 for his sixth goalof the season.


Crosby again was key for the Penguins on their second goal. Hepicked up the rebound of a shot by blue-liner Sergei Gonchar andwent behind the net before passing to Evgeni Malkin.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner dished to Sykora, who stoppedthe puck with his skate at the right side of the net beforeputting it past Biron at 14:28 for his 11th goal of the season.

Umberger scored his first two goals of the game in the secondperiod to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead.


Umberger took a pass from Lupul in the right circle and fired awrist shot that beat Sabourin top shelf at 8:10. Exactly twominutes later, Lupul again set up Umberger, who skated arounddefenseman Rob Scuderi and put the puck past Sabourin.

"From the opening shift, the puck seemed to find our line,"Umberger said. "We came out with a lot of energy. We just knewthat the game was going to go our way and we were going to donothing but win the game."


"We got into some penalty trouble throughout the second, and itwas a mess in the third," Crosby said. "We battled back and wewere pretty even. Then those two goals hurt us."


Mike Knuble added a power-play goal in the second to make it5-2, burying the rebound of blue-liner Kimmo Timonen's shot with10 seconds left in the session for his ninth goal.

Lupul, defenseman Braydon Coburn and Umberger each tallied inthe third to cap the scoring.


"We were just on the puck," Lupul said. "All three of us wereon our feet and we kept moving. If we stay on the puck and wekeep going to the net, we can contribute every night."

Lupul added three assists to record the first six-point game bya Flyer since Eric Lindros in March 1997 at Toronto. Lupulregistered a four-goal game in the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs asa member of the Anaheim Ducks.


"I want to be a scorer, but it's not going to happen for meevery night," Lupul said. "I have to go out and do other thingsright. When I go through stretches where I don't score, I hopeI can still have a positive on the team."


The game was marked with a number of fights and misconductpenalties, particularly in the third period. When the smokecleared, each coach tried to put the blame on the other.

"I don't want to hear any more talk about how undisciplined weare," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "They got one penalty inthe third on a play where they could have had two or three."

"Are we talking about the same team that got five guys suspendedthis year?" asked Penguins coach Michel Therrien, who was irkedthat the Flyers had their top unit out on the power play latein the game.


"It was a lack of respect what he did. (At) 7-2, you do notsend your best power play on the ice. Even Daniel Briere didnot want to go on the ice. Never put yourself in a position toshow a lack of respect on the other team, and that's what he didtonight."


The game also marked the first time a pair of Flyers had hattricks in the same contest since Tim Kerr and Dave Poulinaccomplished the feat on December 18, 1986 in a 9-4 win over theNew York Islanders.