Flyers may get long look at Gostisbehere, Leier

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Flyers hope defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and left winger Taylor Leier can energize a team that has looked slow and out-of-sync in much of the season's first five weeks.

The speedy rookies did just that on Saturday, hours after being recalled from the AHL's Phantoms.

After a slow start perhaps caused by nervousness or because they played a minor-league game the previous night, the young players got better each period, helping the Flyers overcome a two-goal deficit and outlast Carolina in overtime, 3-2, at PNC Arena.

"We had to put the pedal to the metal offensively a little bit at the end," Gostisbehere said after the Flyers, held to a combined seven shots in the first 40 minutes, finally put together some quality scoring chances in the third period and overtime. "That's my comfort zone. Just try and make plays."

Gostisbehere, 22, whose team hosts the Kings on Tuesday, said he felt more comfortable as the game progressed. Ditto Leier, who made his NHL debut.

Leier said he had jitters during warm-ups, "but after the first 20 seconds of my first shift, I kind of settled in, and it kind of just felt like another game."

Leier, 21, had a good scoring chance but was denied by goalie Cam Ward in the third period, and he later used his speed to draw a Carolina penalty.

"Great games by both of them," said Jake Voracek after his first goal of the season gave the Flyers just their second win in their last 10 games.

"I thought they played pretty settled," coach Dave Hakstol said. "In the first part of the hockey game, they didn't try to do too much; they went out and played good solid hockey."

Gostisbehere seems to have the best chance to stay with the Flyers for a while, perhaps all season if he keeps improving. He figures to get a long look because injured defenseman Mark Streit is expected to miss six weeks.

"It's a good opportunity to show what they can do at this level," general manager Ron Hextall said. "As I've said in the past, we're not going to rush anybody, and if things don't work out with either guy, we'll look at our options. But we expect both guys to help our hockey club right now."

In Saturday's win, Gostisbehere made a dazzling move around a defender and set up Wayne Simmonds' game-tying goal with 3 minutes, 9 seconds left in regulation.

A year ago, Gostisbehere played just two games with the Flyers and five with the Phantoms during a season that ended because of knee surgery.

The Florida native played 14 games with the Phantoms this season - he was fifth among AHL defensemen with 10 points - and Hextall believes he is more prepared for the NHL this time around.

"He's watched a year of pro hockey. He's been around the game, and he's now played some games at that level, which is nice," Hextall said. "In a perfect world, would he be here? Probably not. But as we all know, it's not a perfect world, and he's done a good job down there; he's gotten better every game."

Comcast Spectacor announced that there would be increased security for all events at the Wells Fargo Center after the attacks in Paris.

"We won't discuss the specifics on any of these upgrades to our security procedures," the company said in a news release. "We ask that our guests understand that it may take a little extra time to enter the facility."

Flyers forward Ryan White will miss two to four weeks because of an upper-body injury suffered in Saturday's game, Hextall said. . . . Retired winger Simon Gagne, who spent most of his outstanding career with the Flyers, will be honored in ceremonies before Tuesday's game.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull