Writer: Kevin Durso
Flyers get to Luongo early, down Panthers
I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.
All posts by Kevin DursoPublished06 Nov 2014
When the Flyers faced the Florida Panthers on Saturday, taking a 2-1 loss, they didn't beat Roberto Luongo until there were just seven seconds left in regulation.
They made up for it on Thursday.
The Flyers scored twice in the first and twice more in the second as they beat the Panthers, 4-1, from Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers grabbed an early lead for the second straight game as Sean Couturier was in the right place to tip a shot by Brayden Schenn past Luongo.
As they did on Tuesday, the Flyers would open up a two-goal lead in the first. Off a face-off, Schenn made a cross-ice pass to Michael Del Zotto, who scored from a sharp angle. The goal was his first with the Flyers.
Florida opened the second with the first five shots after being out-shot 10-6 in the first. But it was the Flyers first shot, at 2:50, that beat Luongo. A loose puck tipped toward the slot by Carlo Colaiacovo went straight to Pierre-Edouard Bellemare who scored to make it a 3-0 Flyers lead.
The Panthers did get one back in the second. A rush on the power play sent Jimmy Hayes between defenders. He poked a shot in on Steve Mason and the rebound went right to Nick Bjugstad for the easy goal. The power-play tally for the Panthers snapped a streak of 19 straight kills on home ice for the Flyers to start the season.
The Flyers answered right back just 39 seconds later. On a 2-on-1, Claude Giroux fed a pass to Jake Voracek who scored, extending his points streak to seven games.
The Flyers held a 4-1 lead after two despite being out-shot, 17-6, in the second.
As they did on Tuesday, the Flyers put the focus on defense in the third. With a three-goal lead, they kept the Panthers off the board to seal the win.
The Flyers finished with 26 shots. Mason made 29 saves in the win, his second in as many games. The Flyers improved to 6-5-2 with the win.
The Flyers continue their homestand on Saturday night when they host the Colorado Avalanche. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m. from Wells Fargo Center.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
