Sidney Crosby, Penguins spoil Flyers goalie Brian Elliott’s 500th career game, but not his night

It was Brian Elliott’s night, but Sidney Crosby stole the show.

A night after posting a minus-4 in a five-goal loss to the Flyers, Crosby scored twice and added an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins jumped into first place in the East Division with a 7-3 win over the Flyers.

While the Penguins followed the lead of their captain, the Flyers followed the worn-out script that has seen them go from leading the East in early March to making golf reservations in early May.

They got down early (3-0), struggled on the penalty kill, and committed too many turnovers in front of their goaltender.

“We chase a lot of games and it just makes it that much tougher,” said Sean Couturier, who had 10 shot attempts.

The result spoiled an otherwise special evening for Elliott, who became the 77th goaltender to play in 500 games. He’s played 128 with the Flyers.

“It’s not ideal the way it turned out -- I mean, it’s kind of how the season is going -- but I’m really proud of the fact that I was able to reach that milestone,” he said. “Really happy that my wife and kids were there.”

Elliott gave up all the goals, including three in the last eight minutes, as Pittsburgh put its foot on the gas. Crosby played 19 minutes, but it felt like he was out there for 38.

“I think it was safe to figure that Sid had a tough game [on Monday] and him being the player that he is, he’d want to have a bounce-back game and he certainly did,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. “It was a game that unfolded like many of the ones we had in the past.”

Elliott entered the season at 472 career games. After doing the math on a 56-game season, he didn’t think 500 would be attainable this year. But Carter Hart was hurt and much more ineffective than expected which opened up more opportunities for Elliott.

Elliott was drafted in 2003 in a ninth round that no longer exists. He was taken by Ottawa with the 291st pick of 292 that year, something that he now looks at fondly.

“He’s an ultimate teammate,” Kevin Hayes said before the game. “He is a guy that speaks up when he has to. And he’s also a guy who goes about his business and shows you how hard he works without saying anything.”

Among the surprises for Elliott was a video that included his parents, brother and children sending congratulatory messages to the man affectionately known as “Moose.”

“I think it’s the toughest position to play in the best sport in the world,” his father, Bill Elliott, said in the video. “As a goalie dad, I just smile and cheer on every save. I’m saddened for the goals against, but I’m over the moon for all the wins. Most of all, I just love to watch you play, son.”

There was no repeat of the Flyers’ explosive start from Monday night as the Penguins opened the scoring in the game’s first two minutes.

Joel Farabee had his second fight of the week when he squared up against former Flyers teammate Mark Friedman early in the second period. Give Farabee the decision after a big right landed on Friedman’s mug.

The bout coincided with a Jake Voracek penalty for cross-checking Friedman, and the Penguins made the Flyers’ leaky penalty kill pay with a Jake Guentzel goal to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. Two-plus minutes later, Crosby scored his 48th career goal against the Flyers. His 49th came in the third period. Only Mario Lemieux (51) has ever scored more against the Flyers.

Claude Giroux had his pocket picked by Kasperi Kapanen to set up a killer goal by Jason Zucker to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead midway through the third period. Giroux had two sterling chances to tie it at 3-3 just before being stripped.

Justin Braun got the Flyers on the board with his first goal of the season and his first since an empty-netter, also against the Penguins, on Jan. 21, 2020.

The Flyers scored two goals off deflections from the Penguins. Couturier was given credit for one, Travis Konecny the other.

The result was forgettable. The evening was not. Elliott smiled as he thought of seeing his children before the game.

“When we play mini-sticks at home, I’m the one on the other side of the glass and I have to -- you know -- give knucks [gestures through the glass] as they’re kind of wheeling around,” Elliott smiled. “In a weird year like this, where you’re away from your family a lot, it just makes everything that much better. I can’t wait to see them in the morning when they wake up. They’ll be pretty tired after spending the night at the rink.”

The Flyers are off for two days before heading to Washington to take on the Capitals.

The Caps might not have Alexander Ovechkin, who is doubtful for Wednesday’s Capitals’ game at New York. Ovechkin has eight goals in six games against the Flyers this season, but played just 39 seconds on Monday after missing the previous four games with a lower-body injury.

They will have Tom Wilson, much to the major chagrin of the Rangers after what took place at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Michael Raffl, who had a pair of assists on Monday, might also play his first game against the Flyers.

The Flyers hosted Brian Page Jr. and his family on Tuesday night. Page, 17, was paralyzed in November while playing for the Little Flyers youth team. His progression through aggressive rehab is a tribute to human spirit -- even if he is a huge Penguins fan. Just kidding.

His father told The Inquirer last week that his son cherishes the support the Flyers have given him.

“The Flyers organization has been so wonderful,” the elder Page said, “and it’s hard not to think of the Flyers as being part of the family.”

The Flyers also hosted more than three dozen high school seniors who also participated in the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.

Snider started the youth program in 2005, saying, “I want this to be my legacy.” The Flyers founder passed away in 2016.