Flyers surprise Penguins for third straight win

PITTSBURGH - The Flyers continued their turnaround Wednesday night in a place where they have surprisingly achieved more than their share of success.

Brayden Schenn scored twice for the Flyers as they pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center.

Since the arena was built, the Flyers are 7-1-1 there.

Slowly, the Flyers (7-10-1) are creeping back to respectability, having won three in a row for the first time this season.

Pittsburgh (11-7) had a goal disallowed after a video review just 19 seconds into the game. It was ruled that Chris Kunitz had kicked the puck into the net while following his own rebound.

The Flyers, who committed just one giveaway in the game, were coming off Tuesday's 5-0 win at Ottawa but did not match the Penguins' early fire. Goalie Ray Emery, who was outstanding in making 30 saves, said the disallowed goal served as a wake-up call.

"They came out really hard, and sometimes back-to-back, you kind of want to just get into the game - and we definitely weren't allowed to do that tonight," Emery said.

Pittsburgh kept applying early pressure and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo hit the post on a slap shot before the game was three minutes old.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead on a shot from the left circle by Schenn with 3 minutes, 58 seconds left in the first period.

Wayne Simmonds went into the corner and stole the puck from Bortuzzo. Simmonds then fed Schenn, who deposited his fifth goal of the season.

"I came off the bench and Simmer went hard on the forecheck and won his battle," Schenn said. "I went to the slot and he made a nice pass to me and it was fortunate enough to go in."

Schenn felt the Flyers were lucky to bounce back from a rocky start, especially during that first Penguins shift that included the disallowed goal.

"We had a tough start to the period. We got lucky on the very first shift," Schenn said.

Despite being outshot, 16-8, and outplayed, the Flyers led by 1-0 after the first period.

"We had opportunities to score in the first period and we didn't cash in," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.

The Penguins tied the score on a power-play goal when Sidney Crosby tapped in a cross-ice pass from Evgeni Malkin with 11:31 left in the second period.

It was the ninth goal for Crosby, who later in the period was stoned by Emery on a breakaway.

Schenn scored his second goal of the game with 1:20 left in the second period, tapping in his own shot on the power play. Jake Voracek sent a shot on goal that was redirected by Steve Downie. Schenn then tapped the puck on goal, got the rebound, and scored.

"Jake walked the line on the power play," said Schenn, only the second visiting player to score a power-play goal against the Penguins this season. "I think Downie redirected the puck once and then I got a second stick on it, it hit the post, and I was fortunate to bang it in again."

As time expired in the second period, Crosby just missed scoring in a scramble in front of the net.

Emery and the Flyers withstood strong pressure from the Penguins in the third period. The Flyers will end their three-game trip on Friday in Winnipeg, bringing in major momentum for the first time this season.

@sjnard