Flyers fall short in opener

The Philadelphia Flyers opened their season last night in Tampa Bay vs the Lightning. The Flyers looked good from the beginning, and played very strong vs the team that was the best in the east last season. Dave Hakstol divided each players time on ice last night very well and everybody played almost even minutes unlike in Berubes system. The Flyers got their first big chance to capitalize on a Tampa Bay mistake. Claude Giroux was hooked on a breakaway with 6:13 and received a penalty shot, but Ben Bishop saved the shot. They would go into the locker room with no problems score for either team.

The scoring would start in the second period almost two minutes in when Jason Garrison would net a goal for the Lightning. The Flyers would rebound with a goal of their own scored by Matt Read, who was set up by Scott Laughton. The Flyers would also net their second goal of the game scored by Matt Read and assisted by R.J. Umberger. The Flyers looked really good offensively this period. Unfortunately, the Lightning were just as good offensively during the second period. The Lightning would tie the game 2-2 with about two minutes left in the period. The goal was scored by Ryan Callahan.

The Flyers would go into the locker room after the second period with the score tied 2-2. They would come out very strong in the third period, and dominated the period with offensive chances. The Flyers played well on the defensive side of the game especially later in the game and much better through one game then they did all of last year on defense. One defenseman that stood out was Evgeny Medvedev. He was paired on the third defensive pair with Luke Schenn, and had a good night overall and tallied an assist. There would be no score in the third period.

The game would head to the NHLs new 3 on 3 overtime format. This would be the first regular season game to go to the new overtime this season. The Flyers came out determined in OT and sent out Giroux, Voracek and Streit. It is very fast paced play from both teams for the first minute or so, until Tampa Bay got a penalty. It was another PENALTY SHOT for the Flyers. This time Scott Laughton would get to take the shot. It would be saved by Ben Bishop, who stopped both penalty shots. After the shot, the fast paced 3 on 3 overtime play continued. 2 on 1s, breakaways and all. That is until the last breakaway came upon. It was Jason Garrison on a breakaway and he fooled Mason and scored the game winner for the Lightning.

Obviously that was not the result the players nor us fans wanted to see. But what I did see was a kind of Flyers team I have not saw in the last couple of years. They looked a lot more faster this year and played at a more fast pace then I’ve seen in awhile. The Dave Hakstol era is officially under way, and if they play like they did last night they will most likely win a lot of games. They salvaged a point arguably the second best team in the NHL last year. There is a lot to look forward to in these upcoming games and season. Next game: October 10th at 7pm vs the Florida Panthers, as the Flyers try to get their first win of the season! Stay tuned, my friends.