Weal's Shootout Goal Lifts Flyers Past Panthers 6-5

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Weal scored in the shootout to lift the Philadelphia Flyers over the Florida Panthers 6-5 on Tuesday night.

Weal had a goal and an assist, and Jakub Voracek also scored in the shootout for the Flyers. Philadelphia had to rally to earn two points after leading by three goals late in the second period.

Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux each had two goals for the Flyers.

Aleksander Barkov and Frank Vatrano scored two apiece for the Panthers (0-2-2), who remained one of two winless teams in the NHL. Evgenii Dadonov also scored and Keith Yandle had two assists.

Voracek opened the scoring in the shootout by beating Michael Hutchinson with a forehand shot. Hutchinson was making his Panthers debut in place of Roberto Luongo (knee), who missed his third straight contest.

Barkov, Florida's second shooter, shot past Calvin Pickard with a backhander to even the score. After Hutchinson denied Giroux, Weal beat the goalie through the five-hole. The Flyers secured the win when Pickard stopped Vatrano.

The Panthers scored the only two goals of the third period to tie it at 5.

Dadonov got behind the Philadelphia defense and beat goalie Brian Elliott 5:06 into the period. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol lifted Elliott for backup Pickard after the tally.

Pickard didn't fare much better as Barkov netted his second of the game, this one on a breakaway, to tie it with 11:53 remaining in the third.

The Flyers erupted for five goals in the second period.

Simmonds netted his first of the contest 1:18 into the period to tie the game at 1 when his deflection from close range went over Hutchinson's left pad. Weal put Philadelphia in front 4 ½ minutes later with a deflection of his own, and Giroux capitalized on a turnover by firing a wrist shot from the slot past Hutchinson with 11:10 left.

Vatrano netted his second, pulling the Panthers within 3-2 with 7:29 left, when he hustled to the front of the net after Jared McCann dumped the puck into the Philadelphia zone. Simmonds deked to his backhand to beat Hutchinson with 4:31 left and Giroux finished Shayne Gostisbehere's pass across the crease with 2:57 remaining to make it 5-2.

The Panthers got their first power-play goal of the season, ending an 0-for-14 skid, when Barkov tipped the puck past Elliott with 2:30 left in the period to enter the final period down two goals.

Notes: Florida D Mike Matheson served the first of a two-game suspension for his hit on Vancouver F Elias Pettersson on Saturday. ... Philadelphia has won seven of the last eight contests at home against the Panthers. Florida's last regulation win in Philadelphia came on Feb. 21, 2013. ... Philadelphia has allowed the first goal in all six of its games this season.

UP NEXT

Panthers: At Washington on Friday night.

Flyers: At Columbus on Thursday night.

(Copyright 2018 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)