Crosby ties Lemieux for Penguins' career assist record in win against Flyers

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3 at PPG Paints Arena on Monday.

Crosby reached 1,033 assists in the NHL in 1,308 games, tying Mario Lemieux (915 games) for the most in Penguins history.

“Obviously, I didn't ever think I'd be close to that,” said Crosby, the Pittsburgh captain. “I've played a lot of games. He played a lot less than I did. It's what happens when you play long enough.”

Rickard Rakell had a goal and two assists, Michael Bunting scored twice, and Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (16-15-5), who have won three of four. Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson each had two assists, and Tristan Jarry made 24 saves.

Sean Couturier, Noah Cates and Egor Zamula scored, and Scott Laughton had two assists for the Flyers (15-16-4), who have lost four of five. Samuel Ersson was pulled after allowing five goals on 14 shots in the first two periods; Aleksei Kolosov made six saves in relief.

“It was a little bit of everything,” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “We get back, we try to get better.”

Rust put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 1:29 of the first period on its first shot on goal, a one-timer from just above the right face-off circle.

Zamula tied it 1-1 at 6:12 with a wrist shot past Jarry’s glove from the left circle.

Rakell then gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 11:53 on a wrist shot from the slot off a pass from Rust. It came after Rakell had a goal overturned at 7:14 when the Flyers challenged for offside.

Bunting made it 3-1 on the power play at 16:15, tapping in a pass from Malkin.

Philip Tomasino extended the lead to 4-1 with another power-play goal at 17:44, finishing a backhand pass from Crosby just outside the crease.

“I think it was especially Crosby’s line, he was feeling it tonight,” Couturier said. “We didn’t seem to manage him well. He made us pay. Obviously, the special teams, PK, we didn’t get the job done. So, yeah, it was a tough first period.”

Cates cut it to 4-2 at 4:29 of the second period with a shot that went in off the left post, extending his goal streak to four games.

“I think in the second, we were simple getting pucks to the net,” Cates said. “Forechecking, having good line changes, setting up the next line for success. I feel like we’ve been kind of doing that in the second period here lately. We’ve had some slow starts, but when we do that and find our game in the second, we’re really hard to play against.”

Couturier pulled Philadelphia to within 4-3 at 13:06 by skating around Kris Letang for a shot through Jarry’s five-hole.

Bunting pushed it to 5-3 with a slap shot at 18:48.

The Penguins were outshot 12-5 in the second.

“The first two things we talk about with our players is attitude and effort,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said, “because those are the two things that you have complete control over. So, when it’s not going the right way, part of the solution is always to simplify.”

Crosby’s empty-net goal made it 6-3 at 17:30 of the third period before Blake Lizotte scored on the power play with 12 seconds remaining for the 7-3 final.

“It’s big for us, especially playing a team like Philly,” Rakell said. “We know that we’re going to play them a lot, and a lot down the stretch. We’re just feeling good about ourselves going into this (holiday) break and just regrouping and getting away from it a little bit. Then just come back even better.”

NOTES: Crosby has 1,635 points and 602 goals, second in Penguins history in each category to Lemieux (1,723 points, 690 goals). He had the 42nd four-point game of his career, tying Gilbert Perreault for the third most in NHL history by a No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, behind Lemieux (124) and Dale Hawerchuk (45). ... Couturier returned from missing a 5-4 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday to attend the birth of his child. ... Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering did not play because of a concussion sustained in a 3-0 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. ... With his assist on Bunting’s first goal, Malkin became the third player in Penguins history with 500 power-play points (180 goals, 320 assists) in the NHL, joining Lemieux (701) and Crosby (571). … Each team is off until Dec. 28, when Philadelphia will play at the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh will visit the New York Islanders.