PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gritty’s hat trick was that the mascot had one at all, a comically oversized Flyers cap he flung, frisbee-style, onto the ice. Gritty went big — and so did Travis Konecny in his first career hat trick.
Konecny scored three goals and had an assist and the Philadelphia Flyers survived losing team MVP Sean Couturier to an injury in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.
Ivan Provorov scored and Oskar Lindblom added an empty-netter for the Flyers.
The Flyers swept their rival in the two-game home set, but can only hope they won’t lose Couturier for extended time. Known as “Coots,” he needs an MRI on Saturday on one of his shoulders. He absorbed a stiff check on his left shoulder and that could be the one that was injured.
Couturier, who last season became the first Flyers player in 33 years to win the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward, left the game after just two shifts and 45 seconds.
“When your No. 1 center goes down, it’s always tough to overcome it,” Flyers forward Jake Voracek said.
The Flyers, who won 6-3 on Wednesday, appeared to have an easy time, even with Couturier out. Konecny scored a power-play goal 7:27 into the game and added a second two minutes later when he crashed the net and pounded in a rebound.
“I have to keep going to the net," Konecny said. "Everybody says get to the blue paint because bounces do happen when you are in there.”
Provorov made it 3-0 on a slap shot from the circle, and that was enough to chase goalie Tristan Jarry. Jarry allowed three goals on only six shots and was benched in favor of Casey DeSmith.
“I don’t think games can be pinned on any one person,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We win as a team and we lose as a team. To his defense, some of the chances were high quality. I thought we were the better team tonight. But we couldn’t convert on ours and they were opportunistic.”
DeSmith held the Flyers in check while the Penguins rallied against Carter Hart. Sidney Crosby and Brandon Tanev, who scored in the opener, had goals in the first, cutting it to 3-2.
Crosby scored his 45th goal against the Flyers, his most against any team. Mario Lemieux (51) and Jaromir Jagr (47) are the only Penguins to score more goals against the Flyers.
“We just couldn’t find that tying goal,” Sullivan said. “But I thought there was plenty of emotion and plenty of push-back from our guys tonight.”
The Flyers took only four shots in the second period and played sloppy and out of sync following the fast first 10 minutes.
“That’s one of the reasons why the game was so sloppy, because we’re missing Coots,” Voracek said.
The 23-year-old Konecny needed those goals as a confidence boost in the wake of a dreadful postseason in which he failed to score in 16 games. He led the Flyers with 24 goals in the regular season and was stumped when his scoring dried up in two postseason rounds.
He found the touch against Pittsburgh and scored his first career hat trick -- with no fans in the arena, Gritty tossed an oversized cap on the ice -- with 7:07 left in the game.
“Yessir!!! Hat trick! TK 11,” Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper posted on Instagram.
“By going to the net hard, by stopping and being at the right spot he found a way to capitalize on some of his opportunities,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “He’s a big player, an important player on our team and we need him to play well.”
COVID-19 ABSENCES
Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere and Penguins F Kasperi Kapanen sat out for COVID-related reasons. Kapanen could rejoin the Penguins on Sunday.
“We’re certainly excited and encouraged that we’re going to get him with the team here fairly shortly,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’re going to try to assimilate him into the group as quickly and as effectively as we can.”
TROTMAN OUT
Penguins defenseman Zach Trotman underwent surgery on his right knee Thursday to repair a torn meniscus and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
HART STOPPER
Hart had 31 saves and stopped 10 in the second period to steady the Flyers.
“There’s no doubt that Carter Hart is the difference but I’m not going to apologize for good goaltending,” Vigneault said.
WHAT’S NEXT
Penguins: Head home for a two-game set against Washington. Home opener Sunday and the second game on Tuesday.
Flyers: Host Buffalo on Monday and Tuesday.
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