POSTGAME 5: Missed Opportunity

The Philadelphia Flyers missed a golden opportunity to solidify their standing in the NHL's East Division as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers led 1-0 in the first period and 3-2 late in the second.

Travis Konecny (6th goal of the season), Kevin Hayes (PPG, 8th) and Shayne Gostisbehere (3rd) scored in a losing cause for the Flyers. Evgeni Malkin (PPG, 5th), Bryan Rust (PPG, 8th), Zach Aston-Reese (4th) and Jared McCann (5th) scored for Pittsburgh.
Tristan Jarry stopped 19 of 22 shots to earn the win. Brian Elliott took the loss with 23 saves on 27 shots.
The Flyers went 1-for-4 on the power play but just 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.
TURNING POINT
The Flyers were poised to take a 3-2 lead into the third period. Elliott has not allowed many soft goals this season but the Aston-Reese goal from a sharp angle is one Elliott should have stopped.
MELTZER'S TAKE
1) The Flyers' penalty kill has been a sore spot. The Malkin and Rust power play goals turned a 1-0 lead to a 2-1 deficit.
2) In Thursday's game, Konecny drew iron twice and was robbed by Jarry on another chance. That's usually the sign of a player close to breaking free from a goal drought. The payoff came in this game.
3) Nolan Patrick at net-front provided a screen for the Hayes power play goal: another welcomed sight. Gostisbehere's blast then put the Flyers in the driver's seat.

4) Despite the bad goal allowed to Aston-Reese, the Flyers were still in "win a period, win the game" territory. Unfortunately, the Penguins caught the Flyers in a bad change and that swung the final outcome.
5) The Penguins are a team with defensive issues but the Flyers generated very little late push trailing 4-3.