Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison scored the history-making goal on a breakaway, but everything that preceded it showed why this new OT format is going to be so much fun.
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It was the first National Hockey League game for Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol, who spent the past 11 seasons coaching at the University of North Dakota.
Wickett said it was the first time he can remember the focus shifting from season tickets in 16 seasons with the team.
“We’ve only got one chance to get off to a good start”, he told his teammates. Philadelphia got good back-pressure and coverages through the neutral zone, and also established a strong forecheck.
As most of you know by now, just before the trade deadline Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn was traded by the Philadelphia Flyers to the Lightning in exchange for former Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas. Ironically, Tampa Bay only outclassed the orange and black in the second period, in which the Flyers scored both of their goals. Brayden Schenn collected a power play goal that briefly gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second period. R.J. Umberger made a nice move to find Scott Laughton, who left a little tip pass for Read, who beat Bishop through his 5-hole.
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) makes a save on a shot… Nobody scored, but the Flyers out-Corsi’d the Lightning 14-9 in the third period. Mason also erased a mistake he made in overtime with a pair of point-blank saves.
In a matchup against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Flyers did not look overmatched through three periods of play.
Against a team that was unveiling an Eastern Conference championship banner on its home ice to kick off a new season, the horn to end the third period with the game tied had to be a welcoming sound for the Flyers. Tampa Bay was buzzing in the second, holding the Flyers without a shot for the first 10 minutes while creating several odd-man rushes. Penalties-None. Missed Penalty Shot-Giroux, Phi, 13:47 first, Laughton, Phi, 1:27 overtime.
Overtime was nothing short of frenetic. That’s not easy to do against a team with Stamkos, Hedman and the Triplets line.
First off, the very first lineup trotted out for 3-on-3 was Alex Killorn, Anton Stralman and Valtteri Filppula for the Lightning and while the Philadelphia Flyers countered with Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Mark Streit.
But not to anyone in the Flyers’ locker room.
The Lightning took a 1-0 lead at 1:25 of the second period.
Garrison is known primarily for his rocket slap shot.
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There is a rivalry between the teams after meeting in the postseason each of the past two years – and these teams are the preseason picks to finish 1-2 in the Atlantic Division this season. Giroux was awarded a penalty shot after he was hooked on a breakaway Ondrej Palat.
