|
by The FlyerFly
- FlyerFlies.com Blogger & Site Administrator
SUNRISE, FL - All good things must come to an end, even the Philadelphia Flyers 5 game winning streak. But the Flyers had to try to defend that streak largely without the services of star forward Simon Gagne.
The Flyers began their season-long 8 game road trip by visiting the Florida Panthers, but Olie Jokinen and Gregory Campbell made sure that the Flyers did not continue their winning ways or start their east coast tour on the right foot, handing them a 4-3 loss Wednesday night at BankAtlantic Center.
Gagne left the game before the halfway mark of the 1st period complaining of dizziness. The problems are believed to stem from a collision with Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on Gagne's very first shift of the night.
Jokinen claimed the Panthers' all-time goal scoring and points scoring titles with his two goals in the first period. Both records were previously held by former Flyer Scott Mellanby.
Meanwhile, Campbell was able to add a goal in each of the last two periods to keep the game just out of the Flyers' reach.
Tomas Vokoun made 20 saves to earn the win for Florida, while Martin Biron made 38 saves but still came up short on the scoreboard.
Jokinen got his first goal of the night at 2:35 of the 1st period when Jay Bouwmeester sent a long point shot in on Biron, but a big rebound came right out and onto the stick of Jokinen who was waiting near the left faceoff dot. A fast wrister was all it took to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead.
But Jokinen widened the gap with his 2nd at 8:56. Richard Zednik was able to split the Flyers defense, but still decided to pass to a wide open Jokinen at the right circle for a quick shot and goal.
The Flyers had a hard time exhibiting alot of fire or determination through the first two periods, and were outshot in the game 42-23. But they still were able to tie the game in the 2nd period on goals by Joffrey Lupul and Jeff Carter.
Lupul got his 3rd of the season at 9:25 of the 2nd period on the power play after taking a pass from Mike Richards across the open slot. Richards had a good look of his own, but decided instead to fake the shot and send a pass to the opposite post for the slam dunk.
Then just 1:45 later, Jeff Carter tied the game with his 5th goal when the Panthers' Joseph Stumpel turned over the puck in the neutral zone. R.J. Umberger was able to blow past Stumpel and break into the Florida zone with Carter for a 2 on 1 before floating a pass across the slot for the tip in by Carter.
But Gregory Campbell would regain the lead for Florida at 14:16 on a shot that by all accounts should have stopped by Biron, who had a clear look at the point shot before being beaten under the blocker.
Campbell added another just under 2 minutes into the 3rd period by swatting a bouncing puck past Biron before the Philadelphia defense could clear it out of harm's way.
Lasse Kukkonen brought the Flyers back to within one goal with a wrap-around shot at 12:46 of the 3rd, but that would be all the Flyers could muster.
The Flyers will have to gather themselves and regroup as they will now head to Tampa to face the explosive Lightning. Antero Niittymaki is expected to get his first start of the season.
|