Penguins vs. Flyers Game 1: Full highlights, final score and more

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the league with their Game 1 dismantling of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Everyone knew that the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers series was going to be an absolute war. The only question was what the extent of the carnage would be.

Game 1 is always meant to be a tone-setter for what we’re going to see the rest of the way. With this year marking the first time the Pens and Flyers have met in a playoff series since 2012, they wasted no time exchanging pleasantries. But whereas that series was a hard-fought six game battle, this series could end up being a four-game mercy killing.

As soon as Bryan Rust got the Penguins on the board, they didn’t look back. They scored three times in a 12-minute span in the first period, with Malkin’s goal being an early candidate for goal of the playoffs. If that wasn’t as clear a sign as any that they’re about to three-peat this year, I don’t know what is.

But for as great as the Pens were, the Flyers were equally ineffectual. Brian Elliott couldn’t stop a beach ball, and got pulled two goals too late, their powerplay — which went 0-for-4 — couldn’t get a thing going and their defensemen were no match for the Penguins’ high-flying forwards.

They will almost certainly start Petr Mrazek in Game 2, but he’s hardly the only solution for the Flyers. While they’re not yet dead in the water, this performance was highly concerning to say the least.

Three stars

1. Sidney Crosby – Never forget that Sam Carchidi believed that Giroux took the title of “best player” from Crosby when these two teams last met in the playoffs. The defending Conn Smythe winner started his 2018 playoff campaign with a hattrick. And while he didn’t score until the game was well out of reach, he had a beautiful “bat in” goal and was a plus-5 on the night. If the Pens three-peat, Crosby will almost certainly be on hand to collect another Conn Smythe.

2. Evgeni Malkin – Malkin had a tremendous season, putting up 42 goals and 98 points to lead his team. He was also the Penguins’ leading scorer last playoffs, and looks set to dominate the field once again this year. His first-period goal coming out of the box was a work of art. He nearly added another highlight-reel tally in the second period, but he rang iron instead. Having a generational talent like Malkin on the second line is as unfair as it gets.

3. Jake Guentzel – The biggest benefactor of Crosby’s success was his linemate Guentzel, who some thought should’ve won the Conn Smythe last season. He assisted on two of Crosby’s goals and Rust’s opening tally, and added a powerplay goal in just 14 minutes of ice time. What sophomore slump?

Highlights

Next Game

Game 2 of this series goes on Friday at 7 p.m., same time and same place. Hopefully more than one team decides to show up.

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