Flyers win opener, 5-2, over New Jersey

PHILADELPHIA – Travis Konecny and Morgan Frost each hit for a double on Thursday night as the Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 5-2, in the opener for both teams.

Philadelphia Flyers #25 James van Riemsdyk looks for a scoring chance against Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils

John Tortorella won his first game as head coach of the Flyers.

“We played hard,” Tortorella said. “Do we have to clean some things up? Yes, but if we can just stay with that type of effort … it’s a find-a-way league. Nothing’s perfect. Not all minutes are perfect. Sometimes it’s ugly. Sometimes it just looks awful. But it’s a find-a-way league, and we found a way to win.”

Carter Hart made 35 saves in the Flyers win.

New Jersey got goals from Alexander Holtz and Damon Severson .

“We had a tough stretch in the second period that ultimately hurt us in the game,” Severson said. “The result [stinks], but we just have to clean up a few areas in the second and I don’t think we’re in the position we’re in.”

New Jersey took a 1-0 lead with eight minutes gone in the fist period on a goal from Holtz.

“I was really happy,” Holtz said. “I put in so much work to get to this point. I was really happy. … I just want to contribute every game. I want to help this team build a winning team.”.

The lead lasted 23 seconds when Wade Allison tied the game, 1-1, for Philadelphia.

“It’s just quality shots, where I’m shooting from,” Konecny said. “I wasn’t trying to shoot from the outside tonight, I was trying to get to the middle. I was trying to get around the net more instead of being outside, trust my linemates to make the plays and the [defensemen] to get their pucks to the net and I’m going to be at the net front.”