Spearheaded by Nolan Patrick's first career goal and a two-goal effort from Valtteri Filppula and a three-goal rally in the 2nd, the Flyers showed how they can fight against adversity.
Unfortunately, Filppula wasn't the evening's multi-goal scorer and the Flyers also showed how penalty-kill struggles can blow any late lead, falling to Nashville on Tuesday, 6-5, to end a season-opening four game road trip.
The Flyers (2-2-0) quickly capitalized on the momentum from tying their game and took a 5-3 lead early in the 3rd, courtesy of Travis Konecny and Filppula's second of the night. The Predators, however, countered with the quick resolve they essentially patented in last spring's Stanley Cup Playoffs, as Filip Forsberg potted two (including the late game-winner) and Scott Hartnell tallied his second of the night as well to claim the hectic victory.
After falling 3-0 early in the 2nd thanks to Craig Smith, Hartnell and Nick Bonino, the Flyers answered with two quick goals from Andrew MacDonald and Patrick's goal — chasing home a loose puck in the crease from a strong Dale Weise play. Filppula chipped home his first on a power play before the period could end, and the energy was all but drained out of Bridgestone Arena.
Travis Konecny scored and Filppula gave the Orange and Black a two-goal lead. With 13:12 left of hockey, it looked like the Flyers had it from there. But the old saying about the two-goal lead being the worst in hockey reared its ugly head, and the Flyers became its latest victim.
Following Hartnell's equalizer, Dave Hakstol utilized his challenge to assert the Predators (1-2-0) were offside. Ultimately, they lost out, and Forsberg put them ahead on the ensuing power play. There's a classic Alanis Morissette song for that.
It looked like Brian Elliott was set to finish with another solid night in goal, stopping 14 of 17 shots at the end of the 2nd stanza. He finished with 25 saves on 31 shots, though, and Pekka Rinne countered with a 25-save effort of his own.
In addition to Filppula's two goals, Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere contributed with two assists of their own. P.K. Subban registered three assists, both of which came on the last two Nashville goals.
It's the kind of game that saw the Flyers turn in one of their stronger efforts in a period, only to immediately come back and follow that up with one of their worst. Of the four penalties they took all game, three came in the last four minutes of game play.
The Flyers next take the ice Saturday, hosting the red-hot Washington Capitals in their season opener.
