Among the teams in the NHL who seem to bring out the best in the Flyers in terms of outright competition, win or lose, the Pittsburgh Penguins sit right up there at the top.
The Flyers played another strong game against its foe capable of winning a second straight Stanley Cup, but this time Dave Hakstol's group came away with a win.
A 4-0 shutout for goalie Steve Mason.
Unlike the past week, the Flyers actually played with a heightened sense of urgency -- perhaps because they were seven points out of the wild card.
Sidney Crosby went head to head with Claude Giroux's line. Crosby had just one freebie in the slot midway through the second period and hurried his shot so badly that he missed everything.
Crosby had just one shot through two periods as the Flyers clamped down on Pittsburgh's high-caliber offense.
Giroux had a goal late in the game to top off his night.
Notable goals
Sean Couturier's goal to open the second period was just his second in his last 17 games to make it 1-0. He had a career-high eight shots on goal.
Goalie report
Mason made his third consecutive start and had a couple of timely saves, including a few on Matt Cullen, who tends to slip below the radar for most teams. Mason had a huge save on Oskar Sundqvist with the Pens shorthanded in the third period. Mason finished with 23 saves in picking up his third shutout this season.
What a save
How about Mason's counterpart, Matt Murray, on Brayden Schenn's one-timer from Valtteri Filppula in the final 29 seconds of the first period from point-blank range?
Power play
There was a new look with Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere at the points. The first attempt was very poor. In fact, the Pens had a shorthanded scoring chance on Cullen's wraparound.
However, Wayne Simmonds notched his 15th power-play goal in the second period for a 2-0 lead.
The Flyers were 1 for 4 on the PP in the game.
Penalty kill
The PK units came into the game having given up seven goals in the last 15 kill attempts. The Flyers had three shorthanded scoring chances on the Penguins' first power play and could do nothing. They were 2 for 2 in the game overall.
Fortunate
Provorov slipped and fell on the breakout to start the game and Conor Sheary got a gift turnover in the slot. Mason made a save on the backhand shot.
Milestone
Simmonds' goal was his 200th in the NHL.
Injuries
Pens defenseman Ron Hainsey left the game after two periods with an undisclosed injury.
Scratches
Forwards Jordan Weal (lower body), Roman Lyubimov (healthy) and defenseman Brandon Manning (right shoulder sprain).
Up next
It will be the second game of a back-to-back set for the Flyers as they head to New Jersey to meet the Devils on Thursday night.