Philadelphia against Pittsburgh usually offers more rival atmosphere than good play, and with a missed playoff game in the back, the home team offered up the expected hard game.

But it was Pittsburgh, who wanted to show better play than in Monday's 2-7 against Philadelphia, who grabbed the game - and the goals.

And it was the unexpected army commander Marcus Pettersson who showed the way.

The Swede, who gets plenty of playing time in Pittsburgh's back line, does not usually make headlines going forward.

But when the second goal of the season came, it looked as if Skellefteåsonen had never done anything but play in the attack zone.

Tangled personal record

The Philadelphia defense, which with the Swede's goal result may not have seen him as a threat, went to puck leader Jared McCann - who could easily fit a completely free Pettersson.

Instead of a direct shot, the Swede rounded goalkeeper Brian Elliott and could only lay the puck in the open goal for 1-0 at half-time.

- It was a fantastic goal.

I have not seen those beats from him for a while.

It was fun to see him get it in, says teammate John Marino, and is supported by forward Jake Guentzel:

- It was really nice, fun to see him up there and then get it in, it was important to us.

Thus, Petersson has touched his personal record of two goals during an NHL season.

Strengthened by that, it then also became a nice performance to more accustomed goal scorer Sidney Crosby, who in the middle period scored 3-0.

Crosby, who later also scored 5-3, is the team's best scorer with 23 goals this year, but risks suspension for several small fights with the home team's Travis Konecny.

Chasing home benefits

- I think the rivalry is so strong that it does not matter how the team is in the table.

Every time the Flyers and Penguni meet, there are strong feelings on the ice and so it was tonight as well.

It was tough but our guys got through it and these are the kind of matches we have to get used to now, says coach Mike Sullivan.

The victory puts Pittsburgh at the top of the NHL's Eastern Conference, but with more games played than the competition, the team can slip down to fourth place in the table if it wants to.

However, the playoff spot is already ready.

- That is important and really something we think about.

We will do everything to get home advantages in the playoffs, says John Marino, who finished the match's goal shooting when he scored 7-3.