50 years of excellence was celebrated before the game, but on the ice it was an exercise in futility.
Boyd Gordon and Sean Couturier scored 48 seconds apart to kick off Philadelphia's four-goal second period, and the Flyers got their season off to a roaring start with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.
The #Flyers first goal of the 2016-17 season, courtesy of Boyd Gordon... pic.twitter.com/s4rbDDTXgO — Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 15, 2016
Couturier got two goals, Mark Streit also scored and Michal Neuvirth made 23 saves as the Flyers took a 4-0 lead while winning their season opener for the first time since 2011.
Sean Couturier makes it a 2-0 game! Great assist by Travis Konecny and Shayne Gostisbehere pic.twitter.com/hzEAp2HEJn — Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 15, 2016
Mark Streit scores and Ivan Provorov picks up his first assist! pic.twitter.com/NjH84bMOx4 — Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 15, 2016
Sports
Get today's sports news out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest on the Dodgers, Lakers, Angels, Kings, Galaxy, LAFC, USC, UCLA and more LA teams.
Drew Doughty and Brayden McNabb scored in the home opener for the Kings, whose 50th anniversary season is off to an 0-2 start.
Aaaand Drew Doughty gets us on the board!
End of the 2nd, 4-1. #LAKings50 pic.twitter.com/cTRaI9N1z2 — #LAKings (@LAKings) October 15, 2016
HIGHLIGHT: @LAKings Brayden McNabb cuts the Flyers' lead down to two early in the 3rd period. https://t.co/7aZ4r8m8K6 — LA Kings Production (@LAKingsProd) October 15, 2016
Jeff Zatkoff made his home debut with 26 saves in his first game as the Kings' presumptive starter in the absence of Jonathan Quick. The Vezina Trophy finalist is out for several weeks with a groin injury.
Travis Konecny had two assists and defenseman Ivan Provorov added another in impressive NHL debuts for Philadelphia. The 19-year-old rookies, both drafted in the first round in 2015, cracked the Flyers' lineup in training camp.
The Kings' opener went downhill from the pregame ceremony to kick off their landmark 50th anniversary season. The Flyers, who entered the NHL alongside the Kings in the league's Second Six expansion, also celebrate their 50th this year.
Los Angeles welcomed back several members of its original team and other stars from the franchise's founding days. Every former player with a number retired in the Staples Center rafters made an appearance, including Wayne Gretzky.
The Flyers couldn't put a shot on Zatkoff until Streit's tame try 13 minutes into the first period, but Gordon started the scoring for his new team early in the second after the Kings made a poor change. Couturier then scored consecutive goals 7:21 apart.
Streit capped the barrage when the Swiss defenseman banked a shot off the back of Zatkoff's head.
Doughty finally snapped the Kings' 97 1/2-minute scoreless drought late in the second, and McNabb scored early in the third.
NOTES: Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere appeared to take a stick to the face early in the first period, but stayed in the game. ... Kings F Tanner Pearson finished his two-game suspension for a preseason hit on Edmonton's Brandon Davidson. ... Anze Kopitar played his first home game since becoming the Kings' new captain. He has led Los Angeles in scoring for nine consecutive seasons.
UP NEXT
Flyers: A three-game road trip continues Saturday night at Arizona.
Kings: They've got the weekend off before they open a two-game road trip at Minnesota on Tuesday.