Flyers struggle for offense as Tocchet era starts with loss to Panthers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers’ season-opening magic came to an end Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Rick Tocchet’s club started the 2025-26 campaign with a 2-1 loss to the Panthers. It marked the Flyers’ first regulation defeat in a season opener since 2014-15. The team was 8-0-2 in its previous 10 season openers.
Tocchet, a Flyers Hall of Famer, was working his first game in his return to the organization as its head coach.
Noah Cates scored the club’s lone goal, which drew the Flyers even at 1-1 heading into second intermission.
When the Flyers went back down one in the third period, Travis Konecny had a golden opportunity to tie it with under eight and a half minutes left. But the Flyers’ top offensive threat misfired along the goal line.
The Flyers were without top-pair defenseman Cam York, who is day to day because of a lower-body issue. Also on the back end, as expected, Rasmus Ristolainen remained out as he recovers from surgery on a second triceps tendon rupture.
Florida, the two-time defending champs, improved to 2-0-0 despite missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Barkov, a three-time Selke Trophy winner, is out long term with a knee injury, while Tkachuk, a two-time 40-or-more goal scorer, has a groin injury.
• Dan Vladar got the call between the pipes and converted 32 saves on 34 shots in his Flyers debut.
He had 24 saves on 25 shots by the end of the second period.
The Panthers’ game-winning goal came on a Brad Marchand shot from distance. Vladar looked like he never saw it as the puck whizzed by his shoulder.
Other than that, Vladar was real solid. The first goal he allowed was on Florida’s third of five power play opportunities. Anton Lundell scored on a quick shot from the circle in the middle stanza.
The Flyers’ decision to start Vladar in the opener may have been somewhat surprising, but Danny Briere did allude to an open competition after he signed the 28-year-old.
“He has a chance to become our No. 1, depending on how he plays, how our other guys play,” the Flyers’ general manager said in July. “And one thing at the end of the year, when I met with our group of goalies, I told them, ‘You have to be ready at training camp.’ I said, ‘This wasn’t good enough last season, we’re probably going to go out and bring in some reinforcements, and you’re going to be in a battle, all of you guys.'”
Vladar had a better goals-against average and save percentage in the preseason than Samuel Ersson, so the Flyers rewarded him.
Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 20 shots.
• Offseason additions Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak combined for three penalties and one shot.
The Flyers will want Zegras to be more aggressive offensively.
• Nikita Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko, two of the Flyers’ youngsters up front, were healthy scratches.
It’s not uncommon for coaches to lean toward a veteran lineup on opening night. Tocchet did that on the road against a physical team with championship pedigree.
But the Flyers don’t want to make a habit of sitting young players. And considering how much they struggled to find offense Thursday night, you’d think at least one of their kids will get a look in Game 2 of the season.
Grebenkin, a 22-year-old winger, could give them a lift. He gets after the puck and can complement talent.
• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they visit the Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).