Pens revive offense in 5-1 win over Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers were looking for some traction on home ice and the Pittsburgh Penguins were an inviting target to make that happen.

The Penguins had been having trouble scoring goals and the Flyers’ defense was ready, well, they were hoping to be ready.

Instead, the Pens struck for four goals in the second period and reeled off four unanswered goals after a 1-1 tie in the middle frame.

Defenseman Robert Haag (#8) of the Philadelphia Flyers fights for the puck against Center Evgeni Malkin (#71) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Tom Kuhnhackl, Ryan Reaves, Phil Kessel, Conor Sheary, and Jamie Oleksiak scored for Pittsburgh who ere coming out of December with a paltry goal production.

“When you get contributions throughout your lineup like that, it makes your team that much more difficult to play against,” Pens head coach Mike Sullivan said. “That’s going to be something that hopefully we’ll get more of moving forward.”

Tristan Jarry got the start for the Pens and made 16 saves before leaving the game with a wrist injury in the second period.

Matt Murray made 11 saves in relief.

Jordan Weal scored the lone Flyers’ goal in a loss that left the club at 16-15-8.

“All three of those plays started in our offensive zone, one way or the other,” Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said. “You can go back and see three or four 50-50 puck battles that went their direction. If you want to simplify it and break it down, that’s a good place to start.”

The five goals scored were a season high for the Pens and the club hopes they portend a better offensive showing in the New Year.

“We thought in the first period we had opportunities to put the puck on the net and we were looking for a better play and it never materialized, so as a result we didn’t get pucks to the net as often as we could have,” Sullivan said of the overall effort Tuesday night. “I thought the guys came out in the second period and the rest of the game with that mindset of putting pucks at the net and trying to create our offense off of it.”

[WATCH: All Penguins vs. Flyers highlights]

Brian Elliott got the start and was roughed up for four goals on just 14 shots and was given the hook in the second intermission.

“First period, we played solid, we played fast, we had some good plays, we had a lot of chances. In the second and third, that wasn’t the case.” the Flyers’ Claude Giroux said after the loss.

Michal Neuvirth mopped in the third and made 10 tops in relief.

Goalie Matt Murray (#30) of the Pittsburgh Penguins enters the game during the last 5 minutes of the second period.

Defenseman Brandon Manning (#23) of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (#6) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Defenseman Ian Cole (#28) of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers watch the puck hit the pipe and bounce out and across the crease.

Left Wing Michael Raffl (#12) of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for the rebound on Goalie Tristan Jarry (#35) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Center Nolan Patrick (#19) and Center Jordan Weal (#40) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Tristan Jarry (#35) and Defenseman Brian Dumoulin (#8) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Center Jordan Weal (#40) of the Philadelphia Flyerstakes a check to the face by Defenseman Kris Letang (#58) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Defenseman Ivan Provorov (#9) of the Philadelphia Flyers blocks the shot of Center Jake Guentzel (#59) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a save on Left Wing Carl Hagelin (#62) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) of the Philadelphia Flyers is between Defenseman Olli Maatta (#3) and Goalie Tristan Jarry (#35) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers moves the puck around Right Wing Tom Kuhnhackl (#34) and Right Wing Ryan Reaves (#75) of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Flyers and Penguins pushing and shoving with 2 minutes left in the period.

Defenseman Radko Gudas (#3) of the Philadelphia Flyers lays out across the ice to block a pass to Right Wing Ryan Reaves (#75) of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Goalie Tristan Jarry (#35) and Defenseman Ian Cole (#28) of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Right Wing Dale Weise (#22)and Center Jori Lehtera (#15) of the Philadelphia Flyers