NHL debuts for goaltenders can be very memorable. Sometimes for all the wrong reasons.
It's safe to say Cal Heeter won't soon forget his first NHL game, which happened to be No. 82 on the schedule against Carolina Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
Heeter allowed five goals on 38 shots and two more in the shootout and the Flyers fell, 6-5, to the Hurricanes (see 10 observations). Carolina swept the Flyers in the season series.
The 25-year-old surrendered three goals on the first nine shots and faced a 3-0 deficit -- talk about infamous debuts and wild finishes.
Guess what? Heeter settled down and the Flyers stormed back to tie it, 4-4, in the second. Then again they'd knot it, 5-5, with their final goal coming coming with only 9.5 seconds left in regulation on a second goal from Wayne Simmonds to force overtime, which led to a shootout.
Eric Staal's second goal just 17 seconds into the second period to give the Canes a 4-1 lead seemed to put the game out reach for the Flyers.
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But, the Flyers tallied three times before the end of the second, highlighted by Sean Couturier's breakaway goal where he went forehand-to-backhand several times before getting goalie Anton Kuhudobin to commit. That goal sent the game into the second intermission tied 4-4.
The Flyers open the playoffs Thursday against the Rangers in New York.
First shots
Something going on here? Twice in two days opposing teams have scored on the first shot of the game. In Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jussi Jokinen scored at 2:00. On Sunday, Jeff Skinner beat Heeter at 2:07, firing the puck high under the crossbar. Skinner was wide open on his attempt from the right circle.
Nine shots
Carolina scored three times on nine shots in the first period against Heeter. Eric Staal’s 20th goal made it 2-0 at 8:31. Manny Malhotra had a similar shot at 12:32, making it 3-1.
Derisive cheers
Fans were rough on Heeter, cheering for every easy save he made. The truth is, all three goals early were soft. That said, it was his debut and Flyers fans are simply brutal.
Two goals
Eric Staal got his second goal right after the faceoff to begin the middle period. Another rush up ice and another low shot to the far post from the circle that made it 4-1.
Tough finish
Matt Read had just two goals in the final 11 games. His second, however, came at 12:32 for the Flyers' first goal of the game. He scored on a one-timer in the slot off a fine pass from rookie Jason Akeson, who played his first game of the season after being called up from the Phantoms.
Penalties
In the second period, Ron Hainsey got a hooking call on Scott Hartnell, who scored himself in the net with the puck. It went to review to see if the puck was in there first. The ruling was no goal because Hartnell “pushed” goalie Anton Khudobin into the net. Wait a minute. If Hartnell was hooked to draw a power play, then how could he be charged with pushing the goalie to nullify a goal?
Hartnell later got tossed from the game in the final 6:51 for spearing Brett Bellemore, which will automatically be reviewed by the NHL for disciplinary measures.
Career highs/ties
Wayne Simmonds’ two goals gave him a career-high 29. Couturier’s goal tied his career high of 13, which he set two years ago.
Milestone
Vinny Lecavalier was given a piece of Tiffany crystal from general manager Paul Holmgren honoring his two major milestones this season: 1,110 games played and 400 goals scored.
Up and down
Ray Emery started stretching as if he were coming into the game when it became 4-1. Then Heeter started to make a few saves and the Flyers scored a few. This happened all while Emery was alternating between stretching in the tunnel and sitting on the bench.
Scratches
Goalie Steve Mason (upper body) was injured. Healthy scratches were defensemen Nick Grossmann and Andrew MacDonald and forwards Steve Downie, Michael Raffl and Zac Rinaldo (suspended).