TAMPA, Fla. – Dave Hakstol’s NHL coaching debut saw the Flyers lose to the Lightning, 3-2, in overtime on Thursday night at Amalie Arena on a Jason Garrison breakaway.
It was both team’s season opener. It was the first time in four years the Flyers got at least a point in an opener.
The Flyers played a strong, hard-checking game against the Bolts and even held a 2-1 lead late in the second period. They had the puck in Tampa’s end nearly the entire third period, though neither team had many shots.
Matt Read scored the Flyers’ first goal of the season midway into the second period on a nifty setup from his linemates R. J. Umberger and Scott Laughton. They dished two sweet passes and Read connected to make it a 1-1 game.
Read, Umberger and Luke Schenn all had points in this game as they are among the “project” players Hakstol is working with this season.
The Flyers have now lost eight consecutive games to the Lightning in this building.
Steve Mason (29saves) started in goal for the Flyers. Laughton failed on a penalty shot in OT. The Flyers had two penalty shots in the game -- a franchise first.
Openers
The Flyers came into play having lost three consecutive openers. They were 21-19-7 all-time in season openers. Not very impressive.
Notable goals
Jason Garrison notched the game’s first goal at 1:25 of the second period with a hard drive inside the blue line. Mason never flinched, suggesting he never saw the shot. He appeared screened out by Mark Streit and it’s possible Steven Stamkos actually tipped it.
Goalie report
Big Ben Bishop –- all 6-feet, 7-inches of him, gave the Flyers fits. He came into play 1-1-0 in three career meetings against the Flyers with an inflated 3.08 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.
Mason had some quality stops, including back-to-back saves on Garrison and Tyler Johnson in the first period.
Power play
After going 0 for 1 in the first period, the Flyers scored in the second period on Brayden Schenn’s rebound in the slot. Defenseman Evgeny Medvedev’s point drive was bang-on. If he keeps doing that, there should be a lot of rebound goals. His shots always find the net. The Flyers and Bolts were both 1 for 3.
Penalty kill
The Flyers looked good in denying quality scoring chances. The Flyers killed off two Tampa power plays initially, allowing just three shots, but Ryan Callahan’s backhander shortside on Mason was weak late in the second period to make it a 2-2 game. Mason was very slow getting over to cover the post. That power play came about when Medvedev picked up Luke Schenn’s stick, apparently not realizing it was broken.
Penalty shot
Claude Giroux drew a penalty shot at 13:47 of the opening period. Brandon Manning gave him a nice breakaway pass and Ondrej Palat hooked Giroux in the slot for the penalty. Giroux tried a double move on Bishop but his shot just went wide of the right post. It’s possible Bishop’s stick forced Giroux wide. Giroux was just 1 for 12 last season in the shootout, so these are not high-percentage situations for him.
Matchups
Bolts coach Jon Cooper opted to use a checking line on the Flyers' top line. As a result, Sean Couturier’s line went up against Johnson’s and Laughton ended up with Stamkos.
Injuries
None.
Fights
Luke Schenn mixed it up with J.T. Brown early but neither dropped the gloves.
Scratches
Forwards Vinny Lecavalier and Sam Gagner; defenseman Radko Gudas. All healthy.
Up next
The Flyers practice Friday morning in Sunrise, Flordia and meet the Panthers on Saturday night to complete their mini two-game road trip.