Flyers down Pens, 2-1, in OT

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers’ Sean Couturier scored with 65 seconds left in extra time on Monday night to give them a 2-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Couturier won it on a 2-on-1 break for the Flyers.

“Skating to the draw I saw how they were lined up,” said Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim, the third player on the ice. “Their [defenseman] was up against the wall for the face-off and I had [Jake] Guentzel right next to me, so I yelled back at ‘TK’ and said, ‘If we win this, I’m going to rim it around, you should be able to beat him.’ I wasn’t sure that ‘Coots’ was actually going to beat [Sidney] Crosby up the ice, I thought more so that TK might have a chance to get a little bit of a break. Obviously, a bonus to have the 2-on-1 and even better to end the game.”

The Flyers improved to 13-10-2.

“To me it kind of fast-forwards him as far as what it is to be a pro and the things you have to do as a National Hockey League player,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “It’s great seeing him score the goals but it’s been so impressive as far as the other stuff. That’s caught us off guard as a coaching staff. We didn’t realize how equipped he was. A lot of people question his skating; I haven’t seen it for a second, his skating effect any part of him as a National Hockey League player. This is why we kept them in there. He stuck with it. There was a time where he was getting frustrated and I think he was showing it. … We just couldn’t go down that road as far as the frustration. Just continue to play. And I think he’s reaping some of the rewards of his consistency.”

Carter Hart made 31 saves in the win.

“It’s good to get points, good to get something, but we’ve got to find ways to bring consistency shift to shift, night to night,” Penguins forward Bryan Rust said.

Crosby was the lone striker for the Penguins, his first period goal gave them a1-0.

The Pens were scoreless in three power play chances, extending their woes to 16 straight chances.

“I’ve been asked the question a lot recently and if I had a good answer for you I’d give a really good answer,” Rust said. “I know everybody who’s on that unit, thinking about that unit, coaching that unit, is really upset with how things are going. We’re trying our best to get going and things aren’t going. So just keep working.”

Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers in the middle frame to tie the game, 1-1.

“He’s a goal-scorer and I’m sure he was probably gripping the stick a little earlier in the year,” Couturier said. “The way he plays, he plays the right way. He’s mature in the way he plays, he battles hard, wins a lot of battles, does a lot of little things that people maybe don’t notice, even if he’s not producing. Obviously, he wants to score goals, and those kind of scorers, once they get one it just unlocks everything else, and you can see the confidence he’s had for the last week or two. And it’s nice to see him grow because he’s a big part of our team.”

Pittsburgh dropped to 11-10-3.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 31 saves in the loss.

Carter Hart #79 andTravis Sanheim #6 of the Philadelphia Flyers. Jake Guentzel #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Scott Laughton #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Joona Koppanen #15 of the Pittsburgh Penguins off the puck in front of Flyers Goalie Carter Hart #79