Pens Knock Flyers into Third Place

For the first time this year, the Penguins beat the Flyers. You may recall that last year, the Penguins owned the Flyers, beating them every time they played. This year, the Flyers had reversed the trend, beating their cross-state rival four times. The Penguins broke that streak today, winning 4-3 over the reeling Flyers, who have lost three in a row and have dropped into third place in the Atlantic. The Penguins are still playing without Sidney Crosby, but their other young star, Evgeni Malkin, had a huge game, getting a goal and three assists. No word yet on whether the fan in the above picture got beat up by frustrated Flyer fans in the parking lot after the game.

For the Flyers, R.J. Umberger had another spectacular game against the Penguins. He had two goals, and that gives him a total of 11 points in five games against Pittsburgh this year. Maybe this guy needs to pretend like he is playing the Penguins every night, because he has had a very ordinary season otherwise. Steve Downie got into another scrap in the first period, this time against Jarkko Ruutu, and the two traded some big blows before Downie decided to end the fight and he skated away. Watch the video of the fight below:


*Injury Update Scottie Upshall will still be out for about a week, while Braydon Coburn will be out longer. Coburn injured himself in the Rangers game on Saturday, tearing his butt. Seriously, that was his injury. He had surgery and should be out for a couple of weeks.

*Trade Rumors Lasse Kukkonen, who hasn't played in what seems like months, will get some ice time for the time being, but I would expect the Flyers to make a move for another defenseman in the next few days. Rob Blake's name continues to be bandied about, although the Sharks might be the front runner to get him. Other defensemen that have been rumored to be available include Tomas Kaberle, Brian Campbell and John-Michael Liles. All three would fit the Flyers need of an offensive defeneseman, but they would all come at a steep price, especially Campbell, who the Sabres probably won't trade.