Two NHL debuts and Flyers win one other season opener, this one in shootout

Two NHL debuts and Flyers win another season opener, this one in shootout initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers’ factor for season openers continued Friday night time.

John Tortorella’s membership kicked off the 2024-25 marketing campaign with a 3-2 shootout win over the Canucks at Rogers Enviornment in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Morgan Frost received it within the fifth spherical of the abilities competitors. Travis Konecny stored the Flyers alive after Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks to open the third spherical.

The Flyers improved to 8-0-2 of their final 10 season openers and 3-0-0 beneath Tortorella.

Tyson Foerster and Cam York scored the Flyers’ targets. York’s got here 2:48 minutes into the third interval to tie the sport.

Samuel Ersson was excellent in web.

The Flyers have taken their final three matchups from Vancouver, which dropped to 0-0-2 on the season.

The 2 groups meet once more in slightly over every week when the Flyers host the Canucks for his or her residence opener subsequent Saturday.

• The Flyers’ lineup featured 12 gamers 25 years previous or youthful, highlighted by the NHL debuts of Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko.

Michkov confirmed how he simply finds one other gear when the sport will get later. The 19-year-old winger had 4 pictures within the third interval after having none by way of the primary two intervals.

He began to actually create with the sport tied at 2-2. One in every of his appears become a rebound alternative for Luchanko. He additionally went by way of the legs for a shot in shut on the ability play.

Michkov dedicated a penalty however primarily drew two of them. He performed 18:32 minutes and was fairly good regardless of not scoring.

Luchanko, who turned 18 years previous not even two months in the past, grew to become the youngest participant in franchise historical past to make his NHL debut. The speedy middle had a shot and minus-1 ranking in 14:36 minutes.

He was a tad behind in protection when Teddy Blueger gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead within the second interval. Total, although, Luchanko didn’t look overwhelmed or misplaced.

• Making his first season-opening begin, Ersson recorded 24 saves on 26 pictures. Eight of these stops got here on 5 unsuccessful Vancouver energy performs.

The Canucks grabbed a 1-0 lead within the first interval after Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Poehling could not join on a defensive-zone exit, leading to a turnover and wide-open search for Nils Hoglander.

Even with the aim, Ersson was large within the opening stanza, stopping 11 of 12 pictures.

Poehling helped make up for the mishap when he assisted York’s third-period equalizer.

Ersson carried over what he did within the preseason (67 saves on 69 pictures). It is a prove-it 12 months for the soon-to-be 25-year-old as he enters his first full season as a No. 1. The Flyers have at all times preferred his mindset.

“I perceive that nothing right here goes to be given to me,” Ersson stated Tuesday. “It would not matter. That is not how issues work, it’s a must to earn the whole lot nonetheless, particularly on this league. You have to put the gasoline in and simply go on a regular basis.”

Carter Hart had began within the group’s earlier 5 season openers. The Flyers parted ways with the franchise goalie this summer because the Hockey Canada sexual assault case performs out.

Vancouver netminder Kevin Lankinen stopped 29 of the Flyers’ 31 pictures. He turned away Michkov, Foerster and Sean Couturier within the shootout.

• The Flyers’ energy play, a huge storyline heading into the season, began 1 for 1 with Foerster’s game-tying aim within the first interval. It went 1 for 4 on the night time.

The Flyers practically began 2 for two however Joel Farabee could not convert a slam dunk on the doorstep within the second interval. The 24-year-old knew he missed it. However he was additionally the explanation the Flyers scored on their first energy play when he delivered an ideal cross to Foerster.

Final season, the Flyers’ man benefit began 1 for 20 and completed the 12 months at a league-worst 12.2 %.

• After taking part in only one:52 minutes shorthanded all of final season, Owen Tippett was on the penalty kill for 1:53 minutes within the opener.

It’s important to assume the Flyers imagine his pace can put a ton of strain on an opposing energy play. And Tippett is now one of many Flyers’ highest-paid forwards, in order that they’re probably going to search for him to be an all-situation participant.

• Nick Seeler was positioned on injured reserve, a stint that will likely be backdated to Oct. 1, when he took a puck to the peroneal nerve in his right leg. The second-pair defenseman is taken into account daily, however the Flyers did name up Emil Andrae, who was the group’s further blueliner Friday night time.

Erik Johnson crammed in for Seeler and performed 15:45 minutes.

• The Flyers are proper again at it Saturday after they go to the Flames for Calgary’s residence opener (10 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Subscribe anyplace you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Youtube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | RSS | Watch on YouTube