PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have won the first NHL game of the 2021 season.
Joel Farabee had a goal and three assists in the Flyers’ 6-3 decision over the Penguins. The game was tied 3-3 until Michael Raffl tallied 5:37 into the third period to begin a flurry of scoring for Philadelphia. Oskar Lindblom and Kevin Hayes scored 20 seconds apart to turn this one into a rout.
Nolan Patrick also scored in his first game since April 2, 2019. The 22-year-old center and No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft was stricken with debilitating migraines that caused him to miss all of last season.
In other NHL season-opening games:
— Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists in his return to the Lightning lineup, leading a 5-1 thrashing of the Blackhawks. Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Ondrej Palat and Mathieu Joseph also scored to help the defending Stanley Cup champs get their seventh consecutive season-opening win.
— The Blues were 4-1 winners over the Avalanche as Oskar Sundqvist scored twice and blocked four shots. Jordan Kyrou also found the net after being recalled from the taxi squad, and new addition Kyle Clifford added another goal for St. Louis.
— Morgan Rielly scored 3:24 into overtime to complete the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 decision over the Canadiens. William Nylander had two goals and an assist for Toronto, while John Tavares provided a goal and two assists.
— Brock Boeser had two goals, including the winner, as the Canucks topped the Oilers, 5-3. Bo Horvat, Adam Gaudette, and rookie Nils Hoglander also scored, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves in his Vancouver debut.
