Faceoff Factor

Eight's Company

Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins

Nov 7, 03:38 PM | Hype this story!

Eight is certainly great. Let’s take a look back at least year’s results against the Flyers as the Penguins did something no team has ever done – beat the Flyers 8 times in one season.

Game 1 – October 5, 2006 – In his first game in a Penguin uniform, Jarkko Ruutu made a huge splash for Pittsburgh early in the 1st as he scored a goal and assisted on one by Michel Ouellet. Colby Armstrong lambasted Sami Kapanen at center ice and KO’d Nolan Baumgartner with an uppercut seconds later. Penguins win 4-0.

Game 2 – October 28, 2006 – The Flyers had the lead for a measly 4 minutes until Sidney Crosby scored his first of three goals to record his first-ever NHL hat trick. Max Talbot also scored shorthanded and even strength to record his first two goals of the year. Penguins dominate 8-2.

Game 3 – November 13, 2006 – Again, the Flyers could only hold the lead for 4 minutes as Sidney Crosby again lead the Penguins to victory over the Flyers. It was a trifecta night in Pittsburgh as Jordan, Staal, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored goals for the Penguins in a 3-2 victory.

Game 4 – November 20, 2006 – The Penguins scored three first period goals to pave the way to a 5-3 victory against the Flyers. Domenic Moore had a goal and an assist in the first period. Not to be out-done, Sidney Crosby registered his 10th of the year in the 2nd period to clinch it for the Penguins.

Game 5 – December 13, 2006 – The Penguins put on a show for the Mellon Arena crowd as they wow’d the audience with some amazing goals in an 8-4 trouncing of the Flyers. Jordan Staal scored the highlight reel goal of the night as he deked his way through the competition as time expired to register another short-handed goal.

Game 6 – January 13, 2007 – Again, the Flyers would take the lead early, but three straight goals from the Penguins would prove to be too much. Evgeni Malkin scored his 21st and 22nd of the year as the Penguins marched on to a 5-3 win.

Game 7 – February 8, 2007 – In by far the closest game of the series, Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble registered two goals a piece as the Flyers rallied to comeback against the Penguins and force a shootout. The Penguins successfully stopped all three Flyers chances and their one goal by, you guessed it, Sidney Crosby was enough to clinch the 5-4 victory.

Game 8 – March 4, 2007 – Philadelphia built an early 2 goal lead but this time it was the Penguins who would rally to force a shootout after Erik Christensen scored two goals in regulation. The Flyers were stunned as both Erik Christensen and, you guessed it, Sidney Crosby helped clinch the game for the Penguins by a score of 4-3.

Back to the present…

The Flyers are currently atop the Atlantic standings by 1 point over the Penguins. After getting off to a blistering start, the Flyers are 2-4 thus far on their current 8 game road trip. They are coming off of a shutout Monday night against the New York Rangers. Scoring has been scarce for the Flyers thus far as they’ve had trouble mustering goals in the last week or so. The Penguins, as you know, exploded against New Jersey Monday night in a 5-0 win. The key matchup of the night will be the Penguins smoking hot power-play against the Flyers sub-par penalty kill.