Sean Couturier scored twice, including the game-winning goal with 4:10 left in regulation, and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 win over the visiting Florida Panthers at Wells Fargo Center.
It was Florida’s first loss of the season and the first win of the Rick Tocchet era for the Flyers.
The Panthers were not able to match Philadelphia’s early energy in the home-opener for the orange and black and fell behind 8:54 into the first when Couturier blocked a clearing attempt by Uvis Balinksis and managed to get the puck to Tyson Foerster, who stickhandled by Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett before firing a shot past Daniil Tarasov, who was making his Panthers debut.
Tarasov was sharp in the first half of the game to keep his team within striking distance, but it was Couturier who got the next goal on a clear breakaway, with the assists going to Travis’ Konecny and Sanheim, to put the Cats in a two-goal hole with 4:13 left in the second.
A determined Sam Reinhart would get the Panthers on the board with 28 ticks to go in the frame and Seth Jones in the penalty box. After Dan Vladar denied Reinhart’s initial shot, he put his own rebound behind the net. Bobby Brink tried to move the puck out of harm’s way, but Reinhart re-took possession and stuffed it under a swimming Vladar on a backhanded wraparound. Anton Lundell drew the lone assist on the shorthanded goal.
Florida took total control of the third period and tied the tilt after Brad Marchand forced Owen Tippett to trip him.
The Panthers moved the puck beautifully as they entered the zone, with Reinhart crossing to Marchand, who crossed right back to Reinhart, putting Vladar off balance. Reinhart passed from behind the net to Bennett on the other side and he buried his first of the season at the 10:15 mark.
Florida got a big chance to take the lead, but an offensive zone penalty on Bennett (slashing) snuffed out their final power play.
While the Panthers managed to kill off the penalty, unfortunately, they never got their bearings straight when Bennett rejoined the fray. Tarasov had just gotten his stick back when Trevor Zegras absorbed a hit from Bennett and made a gorgeous no-look backhand pass from behind the net to Couturier, who one-timed it home with Gustav Forsling and Eetu Luostarinen looking on. Another former Duck, Jamie Drysdale drew the second helper on the game-winner that came on just the second Flyers shot of the period.
Florida pulled Tarasov twice, but were discombobulated both times, surrendering empty-net goals to Brink, assists to Noah Cates and Nick Seeler, and Christian Dvorak, assists to Sanheim and Couturier.
Despite the slow start, this was a game the Panthers definitely could’ve, maybe should’ve, won. They made a huge push after going down by two and had the Flyers on the ropes until Bennett’s slashing penalty. Philadelphia got their first shot of the third period on the ensuing power play and then Couturier made no mistake when they finally got a Grade A chance and the revitalized Flyers were able to finish strong to post their first win of the season.
The Panthers will shoot for their first road win of the season when the take on the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
The Five Hole
- Sam Reinhart was the best Panther in the loss, scoring one and setting up the other. Reinhart has 11 shorthanded goals since the start of the 2023-24 season, which is the most in the NHL over that span.
- Daniil Tarasov delivered a solid start in his first regular season start for the Cats. He stopped 17 of 20 shots.
- Florida’s penalty kill went 5-for-5 on the night and is now a perfect 12-for-12 on the season.
- In addition to scoring his first goal, Sam Bennett was credited with a game-high seven hits. He finished with an ugly minus-four rating.
- The Panthers held the Flyers to four shots in the third period. Unfortunately, the last three went into the net. Ugh…
Stat Card
