Philadelphia has seen many a Penguins disappointment over the years and the 2021 season opening 6-3 defeat is certainly no exception.
Started out well enough, with the NBC hockey theme music that conjures up memories of those 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup runs, the dulcet tones of Pierre McGuire every player’s college or junior career, a Ryan Whitney/Paul Bissonnette flavored vodka commercial and then a goal from newcomer Mark Jankowski 5 minutes in for the early lead.
So far, so good! But then Philly, as it so often does, reared its ugly head.
Two Flyers power play goals, both deflections on shots from the point. Then 2 more goals from uncovered players for a 4-3 Philadelphia lead early in the third period.
Finally, minutes later, just when you were wondering why the Flyers weren’t whistled for goaltender interference on their 5th goal, maybe the Pens were wondering, too, because 20 seconds after that they left Kevin Hayes wide open at the side of the net and he put the game away.
It is only one game and the Flyers will probably end up being pretty goodbut it was a rough start.
It was defenseman Mike Matheson’s first Penguins appearance in a Philadelphia horror show and he fit right in. Matheson was on the ice for 3of the first Flyers goals and was in the penalty box for the other one.
The result spoiled a couple of bright spots. Jankowski’ also assisted on Brandon Tanev’s goal that tied the game, 3-3, and those two looked good with Jared McCann.
Sidney Crosby scored one of those goals that only he can score when he knocked down a Carter Hart clearing attempt with his stick and calmly reached over and flipped the puck into an empty net with a one-hand backhand .
Oddly enough, that went down as a power play goal but it really had nothing to do with being on the power play which, on the whole, was underwhelming.
It’s nice to have hockey back but, all in all, it was just another rotten night in Philadelphia. And for the Penguins, with this season’s schedule, there is no escape.
Game two in Philly on Friday.