The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their 2020-2021 season with a dominating 6-3 win over their cross-state rival the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After the Flyers controlled most of the first five minutes, the Penguins would get the games first goal. Jared McCann would find a wide open Mark Jankowski in-front for the goal.
The Flyers would answer with two 1st period power-play goals. Both by the 2nd unit.
James van Riemsdyk would get the first. van Riemsdyk would deflect home new-comer Erik Gustafsson’s shot from the point. It was Gustafsson’s first point in a Flyers uniform.
With 8-seconds left in the 1st period, Gustafsson would get his 2nd point of the night. Nolan Patrick would get a sliver of his stick on Gustafsson’s blast for the goal to beat Jarry to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd.
After a Jake Voracek penalty, the Penguins would tie the game. Carter Hart would try to fling the puck up the middle of the ice. But, Sidney Crosby would knock it down & make Hart pay for his mistake. A mistake that Hart will sure not make ever again.
Joel Farabee would break the tie with 1:06 left in the 2nd. Kevin Hayes made a great forecheck to keep the puck in the zone & find Farabee. Who would beat Jarry far post for his 3rd point of the night.
The Penguins would tie the game just over three-minutes into the 3rd period. Brandon Tanev would beat Hart far-side on a shot from the left dot. But, just 2:34 later, the Flyers would take their 3rd lead of the night.
Michael Raffl would give the Flyers a 4-3 lead off of a great feed from Scott Laughton. Laughton would find the puck in the corner and drop a no-look pass to Raffl in-front for the goal.
Travis Konecny would give the Flyers their first two goal lead. Konecny would put home the loose puck in-front after a net-mouth scramble.
Just 20-seconds later, Kevin Hayes would give the Flyers a 6-3 lead. Joel Farabee would fire a shot that would rebound perfectly off Jarry’s right pad to Hayes for the wide-open goal. It would be Farabee’s 4th point of the night.
Carter Hart stopped stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced to earn his first win of the season.
Loose Pucks…
– In his first game action in 652-games, Nolan Patrick returned with a vengeance. Patrick made his presence known going 7/13 from the face-off dot & scoring a power-play goal.
– Joel Farabee kicked off his 2nd season with a bang. Farabee opened his season with a goal & three assists. Two of Farabee’s assists came on the power-play.
– Erik Gustafsson was very impressive in his Flyers debut. Playing a part in the Flyers first two goals, Gustafsson’s point shots would be deflected home for Flyers goals. Gustafsson finished the night with two assists in 18:02.
– On his 24th birthday, Ivan Provorov showed why he is a true #1 defenseman in the NHL. In 23:01 of ice-time, Provorov played a big part in shutting down Sidney Crosby. Whose only contribution on the night came off of Carter Hart’s mistake.
– The Flyers special teams dominated the Penguins in their opener. After going 4 for 52 in the playoffs, the Flyers power-play went 2 of 3. Both goals coming by the Flyers 2nd unit. The Flyers penalty kill went 2 for 3. Hart’s mistake leading to the only goal.
Result : Flyers 6 – Penguins 3 , WIN
Record : 1 – 0 – 0
Next Game : 1/15 Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia PA, 7:00pm
Photo Credit : Len Redkoles – Getty Image
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