Briere sparkles in Flyers Debut

By David Walter
The Phanatic Magazine

Danny Briere's first game as a Flyer was a memorable one as he scored two goals, including the game-winner with just 1:48 left in the third period, to give the new-look Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in the season opener for both teams.

Briere, who signed a lucrative eight-year deal in the offseason, also scored in the first period for the Flyers, who made several changes to their roster this summer after finishing last year with the worst record in the league.

With the game tied and time winding down, Simon Gagne emerged in the neutral zone with a loose puck and moved the disc up to Briere, who skated in all alone on Miikka Kiprusoff and lifted the puck just under the crossbar to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead.

"I couldn't have scripted it any better then the way it happened tonight," said Briere. "I wasn't nervous at all. There was alot of excitement in the room and I couldn't wait to get it going and get the season started."

Martin Biron made a pad save with about 13 seconds left to preserve the victory for Philadelphia while Gagne had two helpers while Mike Knuble added a goal and an assist. Biron finished with 24 saves.

Daymond Langkow scored a pair of goals for the Flames, who played their first game under new head coach Mike Keenan. Keenan was hired in the offseason to replace Jim Playfair.

Dion Phaneuf added two assists while Kiprusoff ended with 23 saves.

It didn't take long for Briere to make an immediate impact for the Flyers as their prized offseason acquisition scored just 3:12 into the contest. From behind the net, Briere took a feed from Knuble and had a wraparound attempt stopped. The shifty forward though stayed with the rebound and whacked it past Kiprusoff.

Philadelphia made it 2-0 with eight minutes played, capitalizing on a two-man advantage. Gagne controlled the puck inside the right circle and slid the disc to slot to Knuble, who quickly fired a shot past Kiprusoff.

At 6:30 of the second stanza, Calgary got on the board courtesy of a power- play goal by Langkow. From the left point, Phaneuf ripped a one-timer off a feed from Jarome Iginla that Langkow deflected past Biron to make it 2-1.

Holding a one-goal lead, Philadelphia was defensive minded in the first 10 minutes of the third.

With 7:43 left in the period, Randy Jones was sent off for hooking, putting Calgary back on the man advantage looking for the equalizer. Langkow made the Flyers pay as he netted his second goal of the contest. From the right circle, Alex Tanguay threaded a pass into the slot where a streaking Langkow quickly fired the disc into the net to tie the game at 2-2.