Flyers' 1-0-1 start 'not too shabby'
CHICAGO - They were far from perfect, but all things considered, the Flyers are off to a good start - especially since they began the season with road games on consecutive nights.
CHICAGO - They were far from perfect, but all things considered, the Flyers are off to a good start - especially since they began the season with road games on consecutive nights.
They started their 82-game journey by erupting for four second-period goals - two by Sean Couturier - in a 4-2 win Friday in Los Angeles. On Saturday, they overcame a 3-1 deficit, salvaging a point in a 4-3 overtime loss in Arizona.
"You come out with three points out four in the first two games, it's not too shabby," said right winger Wayne Simmonds, who cut Arizona's lead to 3-2 with a second-period goal.
The Flyers dominated the overtime against the speedy Coyotes, firing five shots and keeping the puck in Arizona's end for most of the wide-open, three-on-three session.
No matter. With an extra skater on the ice because of a delayed penalty called against an irate Jake Voracek, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored with 1 minute, 48 seconds left in overtime to give Arizona the win in its opener.
Larsson's goal came shortly after Coyotes goalie Mike Smith robbed Matt Read from point-blank range.
"Sometimes, you just don't get the bounces," Simmonds said. "Smitty made a bunch of good saves, they turn it around, go down the other end. They get a scramble and the puck ends up in our net."
Read had tied the game with 15:24 remaining in regulation, beating Smith with a gorgeous move after taking a long feed from Travis Konecny.
"We scratched and clawed our way out of a hole," coach Dave Hakstol said. "It's just disappointing not to finish it and get the extra point. Every point is so valuable."
Steve Mason, who had an outstanding preseason, never looked comfortable in the nets. In the first period, he misplayed a puck that caromed off the end boards, leading to a Martin Hanzal goal from out front, giving Arizona a 2-1 lead.
"I have to make a cleaner play to get to the post," Mason said. "I didn't read it properly."
On the other hand, Michal Neuvirth had a strong game in Los Angeles, keeping the Flyers in a scoreless tie with several key first-period stops. Based on their performances, Neuvirth is likely to start Tuesday in Chicago.
Konecny and defenseman Brandon Manning have three points each to lead the Flyers, who have scored a total of seven goals in two games.
"We're doing a lot of good things," Hakstol said. "Our effort [Saturday] was outstanding. For back-to-back nights, it's the effort that you want. But there's a lot of things that mentally we can do a little bit better and be a little sharper."
Things like getting off to better starts - they allowed the first eight shots in both games - and staying out of the penalty box. The Flyers gave the Coyotes seven power plays, including three in the opening 8:45.
The penalty kill, which has struggled the last two seasons, has been impressive, killing eight of nine in the first two games.
Conversely, the power play is 0 for 6, and it surrendered a shorthanded goal in Arizona.
Breakaways
Voracek (minus-2), incensed that no penalty was called for having his stick yanked out of his hands by Hanzal late in overtime, was given 22 penalty minutes (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct, game misconduct) at the final buzzer. . . . Rookie Ivan Provorov was plus-1 and blocked three shots Saturday, Shayne Gostisbehere fired seven shots, and Claude Giroux had an assist and won 14 of 19 faceoffs (74 percent). . . . Gostisbehere leads the Flyers with nine shots, one more than Read. . . . Suspended left winger Brayden Schenn will make his season debut Thursday, when the Flyers play their home opener against Anaheim.
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