Simmonds Scores Hat Trick as Flyers Win Season Opener

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The season opener for the 2017-18 season was supposed to be the start of the youthful Flyers, but it was a few veterans stealing the show.

Wayne Simmonds had a hat trick, scoring the last three goals for the Flyers, while Jake Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere each had three assists as the Flyers claimed the season opener from the San Jose Sharks, 5-3, on Wednesday night at SAP Center.

It was a sloppy first period for both teams at times, as turnovers contributed to goals on both sides.

The flyers struck first off a turnover by goalie Martin Jones, who attempted to move the puck along the boards and had it go out to Voracek. Voracek set up Claude Giroux in front with a wide open net and the captain buried it for the first goal of the season at 8:28.

Less than three minutes later, the Flyers were on the power play and moments after the second unit stepped on the ice, they had a goal. Travis Konecny sped up the wing and centered to Jordan Weal, who fired a low shot that beat Jones to make it 2-0.

The Flyers carried the lead into the closing stages of the period before the Sharks were finally able to capitalize. A point shot by Brenden Dillon was stopped by Brian Elliott, but the rebound popped up in the air and was batted in by Kevin Labanc to cut the lead to one.

Just two minutes later, the Sharks had a power play and a turnover produced a goal. Dale Weise failed to clear the zone after gaining control of the puck and turned it over to Labanc, who fired through a screen to beat Elliott and tie the game with 19 seconds left in the period.

Shots were 11-8 Sharks after 20 minutes.

The Sharks controlled most of the second period, especially the first two minutes, getting two power plays during that time. The Flyers managed to kill both off as Elliott and the defense managed to survive the pressure.

The Flyers got a power play late in the second and cashed in quickly. Gostisbehere took a pass from Voracek and fired a slap shot that deflected off of Simmonds and past Jones to make it a 3-2 game with under three minutes to play in the second.

Another early power play for the Sharks in the third led to the equalizer. It was Logan Couture with the tally, off a centering pass that hit Andrew MacDonald's skate and went in to even the score at 3:12 of the third.

But later the Flyers made their way back to the man advantage and again struck almost immediately. Again it was a point shot, this time by Voracek, that was deflected by Simmonds to put the Flyers back on top with 10:33 to play.

The Flyers held the one-goal lead into the final minute, with the help of two power plays killing time, but Radko Gudas took a penalty with 1:06 to play to even things up at 4-on-4. With the San Jose net empty, the Sharks had a man advantage, but the Flyers buckled down in their own zone and capped the game off with an empty net goal.

Fittingly, it was Simmonds scoring into the empty net to complete the hat trick, sealing the Flyers first win of the season.

Simmonds is the first Flyer to have a hat trick in a season-opening game.

For the second straight season, the Flyers claimed the season opener.

Simmonds had the three goals, but it was also a big night for Voracek and Gostisbehere. Both had three assists each in the game. The Flyers power play was 3-for-5 in the game.

Elliott was solid in goal for most of the night, stopping 32 of 35 shots faced. Jones stopped 26 of the 30 shots he faced.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Claude Giroux (1) (Jake Voracek) 8:28
• PHI Jordan Weal (1) PP (Travis Konecny, Shayne Gostisbehere) 11:16
• SJ Kevin Labanc (1) (Brenden Dillon, Joe Pavelski) 17:17
• SJ Labanc (2) PP (Unassisted) 19:41

2nd Period

• PHI Wayne Simmonds (1) PP (Gostisbehere, Voracek) 17:36

3rd Period

• SJ Logan Couture (1) PP (Joe Thornton, Brent Burns) 3:12
• PHI Simmonds (2) PP (Voracek, Gostisbehere) 9:27
• PHI Simmonds (3) (Sean Couturier) 19:24

Game Statistics