Flyers Notes: Simmonds earns Gordie Howe hat trick vs. Pens

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PITTSBURGH – Wayne Simmonds got his second Gordie Howe hat trick as a Flyer Wednesday night at CONSOL Energy Center.
 
His first came last season against the Rangers.
 
Alas, Simmonds was pretty nonchalant about his tussle with Tanner Glass in the first period.
 
“It’s obviously nice, but it’s a lot nicer to get the two points,” Simmonds said after the Flyers' draining 6-5 victory over the Penguins.
 
Simmonds made a real impact with two goals as the Flyers finished their road trip, 3-3.

They play Florida on Thursday night.
 
“We started off pretty rocky and finished pretty rocky but in between we played a pretty solid game,” he said. “You’re obviously sure to see fireworks every time Pittsburgh and us meet. It was a good win for us.”
 
Simmonds is on a roll with seven points in seven games.
 
Injury updates
Good news for forward Scott Hartnell (left foot). He saw an orthopedist and was given clearance to begin practicing with the Flyers.
 
That said, general manager Paul Holmgren added Hartnell is still seven to 10 days from returning to the lineup.
 
Defenseman Andrej Meszaros (left shoulder) is expected to see his orthopedist on Thursday. An update is expected at Thursday's game against Florida.
 
Voracek record
Thanks to Jakub Voracek, the Flyers have scored eight goals this season in the first minute of a period. He had one 18 seconds into the third period.
 
He now has has eight points (three goals) in his last three games.
 
According to Elias, Voracek’s first two goals (28 seconds apart) were the fastest two goals scored by the same Flyer since Jaromir Jagr on Feb. 18, 2012 also vs. Pittsburgh (two goals in 18 seconds -- 15:16 and 15:34 of the first period).
 
No Flyer had ever scored two goals in 28 or fewer seconds around an intermission (with each goal coming in a different period).

Loose pucks
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli attended the game. ... Evgeni Malkin, who was shadowed by Sean Couturier, lost it in the third period and picked up a four-minute roughing call. ... The Flyers were just 20 for 61 on faceoffs (33 percent). ... Claude Giroux has two goals and six assists for eight points in his last five games.

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