Caleb Weiler
The Philadelphia Flyers opened up their home season against the Washington Capitals Saturday night, and boy did they put on a show. The Flyers poured on the offense against the Capitals in the drudging.
The Flyers faced Philip Grubauer, the Caps’ backup netminder, and completely dismantled him throughout the night.
Sean Couturier opened up the scoring for the Flyers 7:18 into the game off of a slick feed from Jakub Voracek for a tap in. The Caps would answer about two minutes later with with a goal from Jakub Vrana after Evgeni Kuznetzov set him up for a wide open night.
After that is seemed like the Caps would turn this into a game, but Flyers made sure to take control as they scored the next three in a row.
Scott Laughton scored his first of the season, shorthanded, after picking the pocket of Grubauer to skate around him for a yawning net, that would end the scoring in the first period.
3:15 into the second period Voracek would pick up his second assist of the night after dangling around rookie Madison Bowey and passing the puck to Wayne Simmonds who scored his fifth of the year. Claude Giroux would then add to the total on a deflection of a Couturier shot bringing the score to 4-1.
The Caps answered back 16 seconds later with a breakaway goal from Nicklas Backstrom, but it would prove to be inconsequential as the Flyers would score the next four goals to end the game.
Filppula would tack on the last goal in the second period to make it 5-2 and in the third Period Laughton, Couturier and Giroux would all pot their second goals of the night.
This was definitely a home opener to remember. The fans lit up the rink and it felt like a playoff matchup. The best part about this victory is it shows that Flyers can play with the big boys. Their next game is Tuesday against the Florida Panthers as they try to get back into the top of the Metropolitan Division.
Notes: Five games into the season the Flyers have five players who have scored over a point per game pace so far: Voracek, Gostisbehere, Giroux, Simmonds and Couturier. Interesting that it coincides with the top line and the top power play unit. After getting lit up in Nashville, Brian Elliott came into the home opener and shut the Caps down keeping them to two goals on 23 shots. Even more important is that the Flyers bounced back after a horrible loss in Nashville in their last contest. In this early season, the Flyers are fifth in the Metro, but are only two points behind the first place Devils. Yes, the first place Devils.
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