Larry Henry JrPHILADELPHIA — The Florida Panthers came into Saturday’s showdown with the Philadelphia Flyers undefeated and full of confidence. Jonathan Huberdeau kept that trend going as the veteran forward carried Joel Quinnville’s side to a fifth-straight win to start the 2021-22 National Hockey League season.
Huberdeau scored two goals and registered one assist as the Panthers walked out of the Wells Fargo Center with a 4-2 regulation win over the Flyers. Sergei Bobrovsky moved to 16-5-1 against the Flyers all-time by registering 27 saves against his former team.
Huberdeau made the Flyers pay five seconds into a power play in the first period, roofing a wrist shot over Carter Hart’s shoulder for a 1-0 Panthers lead. Nate Seeler was called for interference and Huberdeau took advantage of the extra man by netting his first goal of the season.
The @FlaPanthers have scored first in each of their first five games of 2021-22. Only 4 teams in 15 years have had longer streaks to start a season: NSH (7 GP in 2015-16), MTL (6 GP in 2008-09), DET (6 GP in 2007-08) and ANA (7 GP in 2006-07).#NHLStats: https://t.co/bECS7WFRrl pic.twitter.com/0h7Up9EZxJ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 24, 2021
Claude Giroux equalized for the Flyers early in the second period, stepping up and ripping a slap shot into the top left corner of Bobrovsky’s net. Sean Couturier passed to a wide open Giroux, who netted his third goal of the season and his first power play finish of the new campaign.
go off, claude. 👑#FLAvsPHI | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/YJlQPHsOgU
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 24, 2021
Cam Atkinson continued his high-flying start for the Flyers, scoring his fourth goal of the season on a short-handed breakaway. Nate Thompson’s penalty put the Orange and Black down one man, but Atkinson deked and slid the puck through Bobrovsky’s five hole for a 2-1 Flyers advantage. It was Atkinson’s fifth short-handed goal since the start of last season, which is the most in the NHL.
Four goals. Four games.@CamAtkinson89‘s already feelin’ it in Philly.#FLAvsPHI | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/2tZadoH3Nf
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 24, 2021
However, the Flyers could not head into the second intermission with a lead though as Florida tied it up with 0:26 remaining. Mackenzie Weegar’s pass from the left wing was deflected in off of Owen Tippett’s skate for a 2-2 scoreline.
Florida was pinned back on a penalty kill midway through the third period, but eventually got a go-ahead goal from Huberdeau to swing momentum back into its favor. Sam Bennett played Huberdeau in towards goal on a two-on-one opportunity and although his first attempt was saved by Hart, the veteran forward banked a second attempt off Hart’s glove and in from behind the net.
Huby is a man on a mission tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oaVAuNI7i2
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 24, 2021
Sam Reinhart capped off the win for Florida by scoring an empty net goal with under two minutes to play, icing the result for the Panthers.
The Flyers hit the road next week, beginning with an October 27 showdown at the Edmonton Oilers.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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