Rally from 3-goal hole leads to big letdown
PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Weal scored in the shootout to lift the Philadelphia Flyers over the Florida Panthers 6-5 on Tuesday night.
Weal had a goal and an assist, and Jakub Voracek also scored in the shootout for the Flyers. Philadelphia had to rally to earn two points after leading by three goals late in the second period.
Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux each had two goals for the Flyers.
Aleksander Barkov and Frank Vatrano scored two apiece for the Panthers (0-2-2), who remained one of two winless teams in the NHL. Evgenii Dadonov also scored and Keith Yandle had two assists.
Voracek opened the scoring in the shootout by beating Michael Hutchinson with a forehand shot. Hutchinson was making his Panthers debut in place of Roberto Luongo (knee), who missed his third straight contest.
Barkov, Florida's second shooter, shot past Calvin Pickard with a backhander to even the score. After Hutchinson denied Giroux, Weal beat the goalie through the five-hole. The Flyers secured the win when Pickard stopped Vatrano.
The Panthers scored the only two goals of the third period to tie it at 5-5.
Dadonov got behind the Philadelphia defense and beat goalie Brian Elliott 5:06 into the period. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol lifted Elliott for backup Pickard after the tally.
Pickard didn't fare much better as Barkov netted his second of the game, this one on a breakaway, to tie it with 11:53 remaining in the third.