Flyers fall flat in 5-2 loss to Panthers

The lasting snapshot of the Flyers' 5-2 loss to Florida on Thursday: frustrated goalie Ilya Bryzgalov getting pulled from the game, skating off the ice, and throwing his stick as he walked down the tunnel.

One night after they stormed back for an exhilarating victory against one of the NHL's elite teams, the Flyers were embarrassed by the lowly Panthers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Maybe they were sapped from their 6-5 comeback win in Pittsburgh the previous night.

Or maybe inconsistency is just the calling card of this 8-10-1 team.

Florida (5-7-4) scored three goals in the first 10 minutes, 15 seconds - one on 19-year-old rookie Jonathan Huberdeau's penalty shot - as it ended its five-game losing streak.

The Flyers were coming off a six-game road trip and playing their sixth set of games on consecutive nights this season.

"I usually don't make up excuses, but you saw a tired Flyers team today," defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. "Coming back from a six-game road trip and playing a really hard-charged game [Wednesday] and getting two points and getting home at 2 o'clock" in the morning. "We were tired today."

Before the game, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette stressed how important it was for his team to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.

"You want to make this game mean something," he said. "It's an opportunity to get back to a starting point."

That seemed to contribute to Laviolette's giving Bryzgalov - who was shaky the previous night in Pittsburgh - his 17th start in 19 games.

"I think he's ready to go back-to-back," Laviolette said. "We need a big game from him."

But Bryzgalov and his defense struggled in the opening period, allowing goals to Peter Mueller, Tomas Kopecky, and Huberdeau. Bryzgalov (four goals allowed on 15 shots) was pulled after Huberdeau scored on his own power-play rebound with 8:14 left in the second period, giving Florida a 4-0 lead.

Earlier, Huberdeau was awarded a penalty shot after being pulled down by Timonen as he was ahead of the pack. A turnover by Luke Schenn set up the breakaway.

"The first seven, eight minutes cost us the game," said defenseman Nick Grossmann, who blocked five shots and fought Panthers tough guy George Parros.

After Huberdeau scored on the penalty shot, Bryzgalov heaved his stick to the side. That was the first of his two heaves.

"I was mad because I just missed him on the poke check and he goes through the legs and I can't regroup enough," Bryzgalov said. "It was 3-0. There is a big difference. I knew it. I almost had it and, [expletive], it's in the net."

After Huberdeau made it 4-0 with his second goal, Brian Boucher replaced Bryzgalov, who has been the Flyers' most consistent player this season but has allowed nine goals over the last 4½ periods.

The Flyers ended Scott Clemmensen's shutout bid as Schenn scored with 6:11 left in the game. Mueller (two goals) and Jake Voracek then exchanged goals in the waning minutes.

Sparked by Matt Read's first career hat trick, the Flyers scored a 7-1 win last month in Florida. Since then, the Panthers have won both meetings with the Flyers.