Date Published: 10-27-2022
(Photo by Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Philadelphia Flyers welcomed in the new-look Florida Panther to the Wells Fargo Center last night, the first meeting between the two teams since the Flyers traded former captain and franchise icon Claude Giroux to the Panthers in exchange for Owen Tippett and draft picks. Giroux is no longer in Florida, having signed a three-year deal with the Ottawa Senators to presumably finish out his career.
In the game, the Flyers saw Rasmus Ristolainen make his season debut after missing the first six games with an injury. Tippett also made his return after leaving the first game with what was believed to be a concussion.Â
Three goals were scored by defensemen in the first nine minutes of the goal. Tony DeAngelo, who had an adventurous period to say the least, scored for the Flyers off a beautiful pass from Travis Konecny.
Carter Hart had a slow start to the game. The defense in front of him was virtually nonexistent for the first goal, but both first period goals went right through him.Â
Scott Laughton scored for the Flyers on the powerplay with about four minutes to play in the first period. A blocked shot from Kevin Hayes bounced to Konecny and he slid it over to Laughton who had an empty net to slam dunk the goal home.
The Flyers dominated the second period. Ivan Provorov set the tone by blocking a shot, not being able to move in pain, and broke up a scoring chance with one leg. Provorov did not miss a shift.Â
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Zack MacEwen tipped a Nick Seeler point shot past Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. Shortly after, that lead was extended to 4-2 when Kevin Hayes (blindly) found Joel Farabee wide open in front of the net for a goal. Hayes was denied on a breakaway and the puck was thrown into the corner. Hayes retrieved it and spun a pass right to Farabee.
Tony DeAngelo left late in the second period and missed the rest of the period. He would return for the third period.
Wade Allison and Morgan Frost were benched by John Tortorella midway through the second period. Frost has been quiet since the opener but Allison had been laying out to block shots throughout the first period of the game.
Brandon Montour potted a powerplay goal 36 seconds into the third period to cut the Flyers’ lead to 4-3.
Frost returned to the ice early in the third, taking a penalty during his first shift. Allison also saw action in the third.Â
Hart, for as shaky as he was early, ended the game completely the opposite. He faced about 10 shots with under a minute to play and looked as calm as he ever has. He has been arguably the best player this season for Philadelphia.
