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Kunitz lifts Penguins over Flyers in SO

Mar 25, 2011 - 2:57 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chris Kunitz tallied the winner in the fourth round of the shootout as Pittsburgh got past Philadelphia, 2-1, in the second-to-last regular-season meeting between the clubs.

Tyler Kennedy tallied in regulation for the Penguins, who have won four of five and crept within four points of first place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 stops in the first 65 minutes, then three of four saves in the shootout.

"It is not something we have been fazed by before," said Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma of his club showing resilience with so many key players out of the lineup. "Our guys keep playing and keep the standard up no matter what is happening in the game. Tonight is another example where we played well defensively and didn't give them a lot of chances. We were able to get the goal to tie the game and we had some chances to win, but it was a hard-fought game."

Mike Richards lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have dropped two in a row and four of six. Philly tied a season-low for shots in one game with 20, first set on January 6 at New Jersey.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots in defeat.

Fleury let Richards' chance to open the final round settle in his breadbasket, then Kunitz managed to slide a shot underneath Bobrovsky for the game-deciding score.

Bobrovsky was tested in the first three minutes of the game, but turned back Kennedy's breakaway bid with his right pad.

The Flyers took a one-goal edge with 4:42 left in the first period, when James van Riemsdyk's pass into the slot for Richards popped up off his skate, then floated over Fleury's head before settling in the net.

Kennedy did even the game 61 seconds into the second period, ripping a shot high and inside the right post.

Bobrovsky's right pad bailed out his club once more, after Maxime Talbot capitalized on a miscommunication and soloed in on the Philadelphia net 3 1/2 minutes into the third period during a Flyers power play.

James Neal also hit the Russian rookie in his pad with just under three minutes to play, then Kris Letang was stopped by Bobrovsky with just over two minutes left in overtime. Seconds later, the Pens defenseman shot high over an open net.

"We didnt play good the whole game, not just the third period. We didn't have a shot on net for I don't know how long," said Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros. "Luckily we had Bob [Bobrovsky]. He kept us in the game. He was unbelievable, but we can't have those kind of games close to the playoffs."

Game Notes

Pittsburgh improved to 7-2-0 in its last nine trips to Philadelphia...The season series concludes on Tuesday in the Steel City...Coming into the game, the Flyers held a record of 14-3-1 against Atlantic Division opponents, the best record of any NHL team against its own division...Philly set a franchise record by participating in its fourth straight shootout...The Penguins added backup goaltender Brent Johnson to the list of wounded, out with an upper-body injury. The club recalled netminder Brad Thiessen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL earlier Thursday...Attendance was a season-high 19,902.