Flyers pound Penguins in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH - The road trip wasn't quite what the Flyers needed - they had a 2-2 record as they desperately tried to gain ground in the playoff race - but it ended with a satisfying 6-2 win Sunday night against their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jordan Weal, the Flyers' coming-of-age left winger, had a goal and an assist as the Flyers moved to within six points of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They began the trip seven points behind.

"Weal continues to impress," said goalie Steve Mason after making 25 saves. "He's like a little water bug out there. He just moves, moves, moves _ and it's tough to contain him."

The Flyers have seven games left, including the next three at home against Ottawa, the New York Islanders, and New Jersey.

"We just control what's in our control right now _ and that's winning games," said defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who had a goal, an assist, five shots and a plus-3 rating.

It was the Flyers' second win in the last 11 days against Pittsburgh, which has lost three straight overall for the second time this season.

The Flyers, coming off a difficult 1-0 loss in Columbus on Saturday, handed the Penguins just their third regulation loss at the PPG Paints Arena in 28 games this season (22-3-3).

Dale Weise put the Flyers in front, 3-1, by scoring on his own rebound with 18 minutes, 49 seconds left in the third period. Travis Konecny set up the goal, Weise's third in the last seven games. He scored two goals in his first 50 games.

With 11:19 to go, Jake Voracek (19th goal) made it 4-1, following up on Claude Giroux shot and putting the rebound just inside the left post. Voracek has 17 goals in 32 career games against the Penguins.

The Penguins, who were outshot by a 33-27 margin, cut the deficit to 4-2 on Patric Hornqvist's goal with 6:24 to play.

But Radko Gudas' empty-net goal with 2:29 remaining iced the victory, giving the Flyers a 12-3-1 record in this building (formerly known as the Consol Energy Center) since it opened in 2010-11.

Gostisbehere added another goal while Matt Murray was back in the net.

Earlier, Valtteri Filppula, battling hard in front, scored on a rebound with 7:11 to go in the second, giving the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Weal kept the puck alive in front and it bounced to Filppula, who scored his first goal in 12 games - and his second with the Flyers.

About 5½ minutes earlier, Mason kept the game tied at 1-1, making a stick save on Oskar Sundqvist from the doorstep.

Weal's fourth goal in his last 10 games knotted the score at 1 with 54.4 seconds left in a first period that, until the latter stages, was controlled by the Penguins.

Using Filppula as a decoy on a two-on-one, Weal fired a left circle shot past the outstretched glove of Murray.

"A huge goal," Mason said. "Those are always tough goals to give up at the end of a period."

The Penguins had eight of the game's first nine shots and took a 1-0 lead on Matt Cullen's power-play goal with 15:29 left in the first.

Mason didn't realize the puck had dropped behind him, inches from the goal line, and Cullen knocked it in by reaching back as he was skating behind the net.

Cullen scored with Gudas in the penalty box for cross-checking.

The Flyers were getting thoroughly outplayed until Brandon Manning decisively won a fight against Cameron Gaunce with 12:02 remaining in the first. Gaunce wanted to fight Manning because of his hit on Jake Guentzel in the recent game at Heinz Field.

Several Flyers _ and coach Dave Hakstol _ said the fight turned the momentum in their team's favor.

"I think (for) a lot of us, if we had the heart of Brandon Manning, maybe we'd be in a little different situation," Gostisbehere said. "I think it really pumped our team up."

Connor Sheary, Pittsburgh top-line left winger, was injured blocking a shot in the first period. The Penguins spent the rest of the night rotating left wingers on a line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Crosby, who is usually a Flyers-killer, was minus-2 and held without a point.

The Penguins were already without seven injured regulars, including Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull