Two of the hottest teams to start the 2021-22 season collided as the Philadelphia Flyers closed out their homestand against the 4-0-0 Florida Panthers. Both of these clubs have been red hot to start this season and have scored plenty of goals. The Flyers have 16 goals through 3 games, and the Panthers have 18 through 4.

Sergei Bobrovsky got the nod for the Panthers, and the former Flyers netminder has had himself a fine start to the season posting a 1.99 GAA and a .944 SV%. Carter Hart started for Philadelphia.

The Flyers lineup was as follows:

Flyers lines:
Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Farabee-Brassard-Atkinson
Lindblom-Laughton-Van Riemsdyk
MacEwen-Thompson-Aube Kubel

Provorov-Braun
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Yandle-Seeler

Hart.

No Ryan Ellis tonight. #FLAvsPHI

— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) October 23, 2021

1st Period

Coming into this contest the Flyers have outscored their opponents in the first period 6-1, and the Panthers 3-1. Watching these two teams battle should almost be looked at like a measuring stick, seeing which team will continue the hot streak in the early going.

Florida showed their skill and depth early and took the majority of zone control, but most of the grade-A high danger chances were actually in favor of Philadelphia.

Travis Konecny snatched the puck with a burst of speed and barreled down the wing for a quick shot that bounced out to Couturier; who didn’t get all of it and shoveled it into Bobrovsky. Konecny stayed active and also found Giroux for a slot chance that Bobrovsky also kept out.

The story of the period and game was special teams. Both teams were given powerplay opportunities and only Florida converted on a snipe by Jonathan Huberdeau. The Flyers, on the other hand, had an extremely lackluster powerplay.

GOAL – Huberdeau’s 1st of the season comes on the PP!

Cats take a 1-0 lead in Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/Rl59UPNYBF

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 23, 2021

Shots at the end of the first were 10-6 and Flyers went into the intermission down one.

2nd Period

The Flyers started the period on a powerplay off a slash from Gustav Forsling. Giroux was slotted on the right wall and the puck movement was crisp. Giroux stepped into a slapshot and buried it top-shelf to tie the game and kept his fast start rolling.

The captain with the BLAST. What a pass from Sean Couturier.

WHAT. A. SHOT. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/nE3cepA9Fu

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 24, 2021

No momentum was built off the goal as the Panthers pressure forced the Flyers into a penalty of their own. However, Carter Hart kept the door locked and Cam Atkinson picked up the puck and punched it through the five-hole of Bobrovsky for the shorthanded goal and the lead.

Cam Atkinson is pretty good #Flyers pic.twitter.com/hOTRqNIfvC

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 24, 2021

Carter Hart stood on his head this period and made multiple huge saves; until a poorly defended rush by the Ristolainen-Sanheim pairing allowed Owen Tippett to redirect a goal late in the period to make it 2-2. Sanheim needs to intercept this pass.

Like a wise person has said many times, go to the net and good things will happen. 🤓

Owen Tippett ties it for the @FlaPanthers late in the period. pic.twitter.com/MRmbH5aiP3

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 24, 2021

3rd Period

The referees especially made their presence felt in the third period and the entire period was essentially played on special teams. As my co-host and best friend Chris Stumpo put it, this was a special teams game.

Florida had two powerplays to start the period, and the Flyers were able to kill them both off and then get one themselves. One would’ve thought this would be the point in the game where the Flyers would take control despite taking seven penalties in the matchup.

Unfortunately for the Flyers this would have the opposite effect and the Panthers took the lead on a short-handed breakaway goal from Jonathan Huberdeau. A complete backbreaker.

Short-handed goal from Jonathan Huberdeau to pull the Panthers ahead 3-2 pic.twitter.com/oHXdx52opm

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 24, 2021

The Flyers weren’t able to recover from their self-inflicted mistakes and get one by Bobrovsky despite pulling Carter Hart. The Panthers potted home the empty netter and secured the 4-2 win.

Quick Hits

• The Flyers should’ve won this game, self-inflicted mistakes and seven penalties cost them the game.
• Carter Hart was honestly fantastic in this game, but the team did him zero favors.
• The goal at the end of the second period was the game, shifted all the momentum in favor of Florida.
• Yandle and Sanheim had rough games and had notable moments where they made a bad play.
• Giroux remains red hot and seems to have a shoot first mentality this year
• Nicolas Aube-Kubel has frustrated me greatly this season
• The hope is that Ellis is ready for the west Canadian road trip, and I truly hope so.
• Cam Atkinson’s short-handed goal was great to see, a lot was made of his PK abilities.

Next Up: @ Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (10PM/TNT)

Mandatory Credit: Zack Hill/Philadelphia Flyers