Flyers lose to Penguins in first game since firing GM

PITTSBURGH -- The Philadelphia Flyers lost their first game since
firing Chuck Fletcher
as general manager and president of hockey operations, 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Carter Hart made 27 saves, and Kieffer Bellows scored for the Flyers (24-31-11), who have lost three straight.
"I don't have a lot to complain about," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "I know we lost another one. I thought we played hard. I thought everybody contributed. ... We have to keep banging away here and keep on trying to play the right way."
Jason Zucker scored for the eighth time in seven games, and Jake Guentzel and Mikael Granlund each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (33-22-10), who are 6-1-1 in their past eight games. Casey DeSmith made 31 saves.

The Penguins and New York Islanders are tied for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh lost 4-3 in overtime to New York on Thursday after leading by two goals with 5:29 remaining in the third period.
"I think we still have another level, but I thought it was pretty good," Zucker said. "I thought we started well. ...We just wanted to make sure we stayed on our toes. I feel like the games where we've given up leads, we've kind of sat back and were trying to protect the lead instead of getting after them."
Mike Sullivan became the 40th coach in NHL history, and ninth active, to reach 400 wins.
"I've been fortunate to have coached a lot of really good players," Sullivan said. "Good players, great players, is what makes coaches look smart. This group that I've had in Pittsburgh has been an unbelievable group to work with. I'm grateful to all the players who have been a part of it, who have made the sacrifice to help us have success. It's humbling, for sure."
Rickard Rakell put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 5:52 of the first period, deflecting a point shot from Marcus Pettersson. It was his first goal since Feb. 17 (11 games).
Bellows tied it 1-1 at 10:04, scoring blocker side with a snap shot from above the right circle after driving through the neutral zone. The goal was his second in 21 games this season.
Sidney Crosby put the Penguins back in front 2-1 with a power-play goal at 6:49 of the second period after Tyson Foerster was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Brian Dumoulin at 6:11. He scored on a one-timer from the right circle off a pass by Guentzel.

Jeff Carter had a chance to extend the lead on a short-handed breakaway at 17:26, but his attempt five-hole with a backhand was stopped by Hart.
Zucker redirected a shot from Pettersson to make it 3-1 at 14:24 of the third period.
"When you're trying to do too much, it can sometimes be worse," Flyers forward Owen Tippett said. "You have to stick with it and grind through and hope for the results."
Guentzel shot into an empty net to push the lead to 4-1 with 1:38 left before Granlund scored from the slot with 56 seconds remaining for the 5-1 final.
"It's a 2-1 game right to the end," Tortorella said. "I thought our structure was good. We had some chances. Just couldn't find a way to score."
The Flyers had two chances to tie it on a power play in the third before Zucker scored. DeSmith made four saves after Pettersson was called for hooking at 6:17, and another two saves after Bryan Rust was called for tripping at 11:57.
"That was phenomenal," DeSmith said. "I thought we were really tight. We didn't give them any time and space to set up. We were pressuring all over the ice. That's what we have to do every time."
NOTES:Sullivan is 400-234-15-87 in the NHL, including 330-178-64 with Pittsburgh. He was 70-56-23 with 15 ties in two seasons with the Boston Bruins. … Penguins forward Nick Bonino did not play after having surgery to repair a lacerated kidney. He is week to week. … Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim had two shots on goal in 20:55 of ice time in his 400th NHL game. … Granlund had his first two points in four games with the Penguins since being acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators on March 1. … Philadelphia defenseman Tony DeAngelo served the second of a two-game suspension for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Corey Perry on Tuesday.