Philadelphia, PA -- Practice makes perfect, and at least this season, there's 82 chances for Peter Laviolette and his roster to get it right instead of only 48.
Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit hit the scoresheet in their Philadelphia debuts, but Dave Bolland scored twice, including the winner early in the third period, and Jonathan Bernier stopped 31 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs took down the Flyers, 3-1, on Wednesday.
Bolland, whose last tally was the Stanley Cup-winner for Chicago late in regulation of the deciding Game 6 in Boston, was shipped north of the border in a draft-day deal for two picks in 2013 and one in 2014.
Bernier made his first start for the Leafs, after being acquired from Los Angeles in late June for two players and a draft pick.
Phil Kessel added a score and Joffrey Lupul picked up a pair of assists for the Maple Leafs, who won both of their back-to-back road games to begin their 2013-14 schedule.
“Wins at the beginning of the season are just as important as ones at the end,” mused Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle.
Steve Mason made 22 saves in defeat for the Flyers, who received a first-period power-play strike from Brayden Schenn but came up empty on six other opportunities.
"I thought we moved the puck around real well. Both units had many chances, great chances, but just couldn't put it away," said the former Lightning captain and Cup winner about the man-advantage unit.
Lecavalier earned his first Philadelphia point with the primary assist, while Streit's secondary helper was his first point for the hosts. Both players were snagged on the free-agent market, with the Flyers inking the former to a 5-year deal worth $22.5 million and the latter to a $21 million pact over four seasons.
Toronto equalized with 2:54 remaining in the second period. Toronto captain
Dion Phaneuf picked off an errant pass in the neutral zone, skated over
the blue line and unleashed a low, knuckling shot. Mason misplayed the
rebound into the slot, where a trailing Kessel lifted it home.
Wayne
Simmonds was then hauled down from behind by Toronto defenseman Paul Ranger
as he cut from the right wing into the slot with 3.1 seconds left in the
frame and drew a penalty shot.
Bernier was equal, as Simmonds opted for the five-hole but was denied to keep it a 1-1 deadlock heading to the final 20 minutes.
“The first thing you notice is he’s really calm the way he handles
shots,” Lupul said of his new backstop. “He doesn’t
give up rebounds and he plays with confidence.”
The Leafs assumed a 2-1 edge with 2 1/2 minutes played in the third, as Bolland earned his first score as a Leaf by flipping home a Lupul feed from the low slot.
Philly then came up empty on two successive chances with the advantage.
Mason was sent to the bench for an extra skater with under 90 seconds to play, but any comeback attempt was derailed on a late hooking minor to Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen.
Bolland converted on a low shot from the right side with 22.5 on the clock to seal the victory.
It doesn't get any easier for the Orange and Black, who head to Montreal on Saturday to take on ex-Flyer Danny Briere and a host of Francophones who might be a bit perturbed that Lecavalier spurned his hometown team once bought out by Tampa Bay.
After coming up empty on two early power-play chances, the Flyers cashed in on their third. Lecavalier moved behind Bernier from right to left and dished in front, where Schenn potted it inside the near post with 7.8 seconds left in the first period.
"Anytime you score a goal and help contribute to the team is obviously a
plus and a bonus," Schenn said. "There was some pretty nifty work by
'Vinny' down low which just goes to show you how good he is."
Notes: Toronto has killed 11 of 12 short-handed situations this season, after being the second-ranked penalty-killing unit last season...The Flyers had opened a season against the Leafs only once previously in their 46-year history, a 2-0 shutout at the Spectrum on Oct. 11, 1973 with Bernie Parent making 28 saves...Simmonds' penaly shot was the Flyers' first since Danny Briere missed against Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers on January 2, 2012...Philadelphia has dropped its last four season openers at home, with the last win a 2-0 decision vs. Buffalo on Oct. 9, 2003...The Flyers fell to 15-11-3 all-time in season openers on home ice.
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