Flyers find defense in victory over Panthers
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Goaltender Steve Mason and the struggling Philadelphia Flyers defense turned things around Tuesday night, shutting down the Florida Panthers 3-1 at the BB&T Center.
The Flyers entered the game last in the NHL at 3.42 goals allowed per game before Mason made 38 saves.
Reilly Smith's goal with 1:51 left in the third ruined Mason's shutout bid. Smith tipped in a shot from the left circle by Jonathan Marchessault.
Wayne Simmonds scored in the first period, Dale Weise tallied in the second, and Nick Cousins added a goal in the third to lead the Flyers (9-8-3) over the Panthers (10-9-1). It was Simmonds' 10th goal of the season, the first for Weise and the third for Cousins.
Simmonds, who was dropped from the first line to the second before this game, also added an assist.
Philadelphia was zero for its last 10 on the power play before the man-advantage goals by Weise and Cousins.
The Flyers also snapped a three-game slide at the BB&T Center.
Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (25 saves) saw his four-game win streak snapped.
Florida center Nick Bjugstad, who had a total of 31 goals the past two years, made his 2016-2017 debut after missing several weeks because of a broken hand. But Bjugstad, like his teammates, failed to make much of a positive impact.
The Flyers welcomed back left winger Chris Vandevelde, who had been out briefly while being tested for a possible concussion, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who was a healthy scratch two games ago. Gostisbehere was raised within minutes of the BB&T Center, where several family members were in attendance.
Philadelphia opened the scoring with 8:49 left in the first period. Simmonds scored unassisted, roofing a shot over Luongo's right shoulder.
The Flyers got their power play going in the second period. Rookie center Travis Konecny, on a two-on-one with Weise, had his wrist shot bounce off Luongo's glove. Weise feasted on the juicy rebound to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead at 13:03 of the second period.
Philadelphia made it 3-0 on Cousins' goal with 12:56 left in the third. Simmonds' slick pass freed Cousins, who was in alone on Luongo.
NOTES: Florida was coming off a 3-1 road trip that included wins over two division leaders, the Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic) and the New York Rangers (Metropolitan). ... Florida sent LW Jared McCann to the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds. ... Florida scratched D Dylan McIlrath, C Seth Griffith and LW Shawn Thornton. ... The Flyers were without G Michal Neuvirth (left knee) and C Boyd Gordon (back spasms). ... Flyers rookie G Anthony Stolarz, a 6-6, 220-pounder, is on the roster and waiting to make his NHL debut. Once the 22-year-old Stolarz gets in, he will be the first goalie from New Jersey to play in the NHL. ... Philadelphia scratched D Nick Schultz, LW Roman Lyubimov and D Michael Del Zotto.