The Philadelphia Flyers came out flying against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road in their season opener Thursday. That wasn’t the case Saturday against the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers scored four times in the first 6:46 of the first period en route to a 7-1 blowout victory over the Flyers in their home opener against the Flyers Saturday evening at the BB&T Center.
Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen all scored for Floirda before the seven-minute mark of the first period, chasing goaltender Steve Mason and putting the Panthers up 4-0 early.
Mark Streit scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who outshot the Panthers 39- 30 on the night.
Streit wired a shot past goaltender Roberto Luongo from the point in the second period on the power play after Jaromir Jagr had just put the Panthers up 5-0.
Michael Neuvirth stopped 19 of 22 shots in relief of Mason for his Flyers debut.
Luongo turned aside 38 of 39 shots for the Panthers, who got a four-point night from Trocheck. Reilly Smith also scored his first two goals of the season for the Panthers in the win.
The Flyers are now 0-1-1 to start the 2015-16 season.
Key Stats
- Saturday was the quickest Steve Mason has been pulled from a game since December,2010 — when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets
- The Flyers set a new record for the fastest 4-goal deficit in franchise history
- Voracek led all Flyers with six shots on goal, but was held off the scoresheet for the second straight game
- Wayne Simmonds had a productive night, picking up a power-play assist and dishing out five hits in just 11:55 of ice time
- Claude Giroux picked up his first point of the period on the lone Flyers’ goal, sending a pass to Mark Streit on the power play
- The Flyers have now started 0-2 for the fourth consecutive season
The Highlight Reel
(The best Flyers gifs from the game)
Not the best way to start the game
Steve Mason on the bench after being pulled will give you feels
Flyers down 4-0, but Bellemare trying to rally
Mark Streit with the only Flyers goal on the night. A power-play blast
Luke Schenn falls and takes a four-minute penalty in the process. How?
Claude Giroux destroying Dave Bolland
#PlayBoldly
(The best tweets sent out during the game)
Flyers hockey and chill???
— Jordie 🔵 (@BarstoolJordie) October 10, 2015
Claude Giroux’s reaction after losing in Game 1 comes in handy
https://twitter.com/flyersfan3628/status/652991370072862720
But the Flyers are back, so that’s all that really matters…right?
Words can't describe how happy I am to be watching flyers hockey again
— Olivia ❃ (@liv_uhhhh) October 10, 2015
#TankForMatthews
#Flyers already tanking for Austin Matthews
— Tim M. (@Flyersguru) October 10, 2015
Frustration
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 10, 2015
The living legend with two goals on the night
Jagr will probably score against the #Flyers on his deathbed.
— 1A 2A CONSERVATIVE (@1A2ASmartass) October 11, 2015
The struggle
I can't believe this! #Flyers pic.twitter.com/7VFIW6yRT9
— Philly Quinn🎃 (@KimmiOsborne) October 11, 2015
Only on AMC
Flyers staging a preview of the season premiere of @TheWalkingDead 24 hours early! #Walkers
— Tony Bruno (@TonyBrunoShow) October 11, 2015
Postgame
Flyers had a players only meeting after the game. No coaches were in the locker room
— Jeff Neiburg (@Jeff_Neiburg) October 11, 2015
Capture This
(The best photos from the game)
Ryan White drops the gloves with Shawn Thornton
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
Claude Giroux in action
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
Just wasn’t Steve Mason’s night
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
Matt Read battling to get to a loose puck
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
Next Up: Flyers vs. Panthers, Monday October 12, 7:00, WFC
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