Philadelphia Flyers News and Analysis: Joel Farabee, Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick, NHL, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL, Rocket Sports Media
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | ALLENTOWN, PA — The Philadelphia Flyers opened the 2020-21 season on Wednesday night with a resounding 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the team’s fifth consecutive season-opening win, putting them second overall in the NHL record books just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, who notched their seventh consecutive win on opening night.
Joel Farabee
The youth movement showed strength on home ice in Wednesday’s game. Joel Farabee tallied a career-high four points on the night (1G/3A) and currently leads the NHL’s points race. The 20-year-old winger is just the second Flyer to score four points in a season opener. Ray Allison also completed that feat back on October 7, 1982, when he scored a goal and three assists against the Quebec Nordiques.
Joel Farabee is having a night! 🚨
3 points total including this goal to close out the 2nd period. #AnytimeAnywhere
📺: NBCSN
💻: https://t.co/vt2BNCiDZV pic.twitter.com/yH9AalJKE9— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) January 14, 2021
Oskar Lindblom
After a difficult battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, Oskar Lindblom was back on Wells Fargo Center ice for the first time since December 7, 2019. He scored one goal in his regular season return, along with blocking three shots. One of those shots seemed to cause him quite a bit of pain, but he returned to the Flyers bench for the next period.
"My one disappointment tonight is that Oskar was back at @WellsFargoCtr and the Philadelphia fans couldn’t give him cheer and love yet for battling back from cancer. It would’ve been phenomenal with Oskar back and this place full of fans.”- AV following #PITvsPHI. pic.twitter.com/Ha0yqqpsMx
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 14, 2021
Nolan Patrick
Another young player who finally found himself back on NHL ice was Nolan Patrick, playing in his first game since April 4, 2019. Patrick missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a migraine disorder, but has since been cleared for play and looked strong in his start to the season. He also tallied a goal in the season opener against Pittsburgh, one of Philadelphia’s two power play goals of the night.
Konecny: It's been pretty fun watching Patty (Patrick). It's just good to see him having fun again. He's just having fun playing hockey. He's working hard. #Flyers #AnytimeAnywhere @RocketSports @theflyersreport pic.twitter.com/8BRPoBoOBX
— Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) January 14, 2021
News & Updates
- Shayne Gostisbehere, unavailable for Wednesday’s game due to COVID-19 restrictions, did not practice on Thursday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.
- The Flyers announced defenseman Linus Hogberg (HC Vita Hasten – Allsvenskan) and forwards David Kase (HC Karlovy Vary – Czech Extraliga) and Maksim Sushko (Minsk – KHL) have been reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). German Rubtsov remains with his European team, HC Sochi.
- Vigneault confirmed Carter Hart will start in net against Pittsburgh on Friday night. No line changes were noted during Thursday’s practice.
The Press Zone Podcast
For more information and analysis on the Philadelphia Flyers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Flyer prospects, be sure to check out the latest episode of The Press Zone podcast where we discuss training camp, taxi squads, and preview the season. Listen, subscribe, and share!