PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Scott Hartnell's 13th goal of the season gave Philadelphia a three-goal lead in the second period Thursday and the Flyers held on to defeat Pittsburgh 3-2.
Ilya Bryzgalov made 13 saves in the third period to fight off the Penguins. Philadelphia jumped past Pittsburgh into the lead in the Atlantic Division.
Danny Briere put Philadelphia in front with the only first-period goal and Wayne Simmonds boosted the advantage on the power play 8:42 into the second.
Hartnell's goal came with 6:28 to go in the middle stanza.
James Neal tallied for the Penguins late in the second and Evgeni Malkin scored on a tip-in in the third.
Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots overall and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for the Penguins, who have lost three out of five.
Pittsburgh played without team captain Sidney Crosby, who sat out the game as a precaution after colliding with teammate Chris Kunitz Monday in a loss to Boston. Crosby will also miss Saturday's meeting with the New York Islanders.
