Flyers home opener: A chance to punch Panthers back Monday
SUNRISE, Fla. - Two nights after an embarrassing 7-1 loss in Florida, the Flyers have a chance at redemption Monday as they host the same Panthers in their home opener.
SUNRISE, Fla. - Two nights after an embarrassing 7-1 loss in Florida, the Flyers have a chance at redemption Monday as they host the same Panthers in their home opener.
The Flyers have started their season in familiar fashion: Two games, two losses.
"It's early in the year, and the one thing that is absolute is that nobody's going to overreact," rookie coach Dave Hakstol said after the ugly loss Saturday prompted a players-only meeting that some might call overreaction. "You take this situation and you deal with it for what it is. Deal with it honestly, and most of those dealings will take place in the locker room."
The Flyers were outplayed from the outset Saturday.
"They beat our [butts], and we just have to make sure we give it to them on Monday," winger Jake Voracek said.
The Flyers defense was slow to react, the penalty kill was awful, and goalie Steve Mason (four goals surrendered on eight shots) had the worst start of his career. Florida chased Mason by building a 4-0 lead in the first 6 minutes, 46 seconds - the fastest four goals for a team in its season debut in NHL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"Right from the beginning, there's nothing I can be too proud of," said Mason, who finished with the second-best save percentage (.928) in franchise history last season.
On Monday, the Flyers (0-1-1) have a chance to pay back the Panthers, and, based on Sunday's practice, they will make lineup changes. Hakstol said no decisions have been made, but it appears Sam Gagner will be on Sean Couturier's second line, that R.J. Umberger (who was given a "maintenance" day off on Sunday) will sit, and Wayne Simmonds will drop from the second to the third line.
"We have to learn from our mistakes; we have to come out a lot harder," said Luke Schenn, who was minus-3 in the loss.
The Flyers committed nine penalties and allowed three power-play goals in the game (4 in 10 attempts this season), one that had several scrums.
Florida coach Gerard Gallant thinks the Flyers will be "ready to play, and it's going to be a different game" on Monday.
The clunker followed an encouraging, 3-2 overtime loss in Tampa on Thursday. The Flyers outplayed the defending Eastern Conference champions in the first and third periods.
That's what made Saturday's performance such a head-scratcher.
"For me, it's tough to explain because we had a really good game in Tampa against a really good team," defenseman Mark Streit said. "Had a good start. Had a really good 60 minutes and got a point, and [Saturday], it was like a different team out there. We've got to be ready to compete, to skate. If you're not aggressive enough, they're going to take advantage - and they did."
Breakaways. The Flyers are 26-15-6 in home openers. . . . Kimmo Timonen will be honored before Wednesday's game against visiting Chicago.
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